Methods of controlling multi-zone tintable windows

ABSTRACT

Window controllers and methods for controlling tinting and other functions of tinting zones of multi-zone tintable windows and multiple tinting zones of a group of tintable windows.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 toInternational PCT Application No. PCT/US16/55005 (designating the UnitedStates), titled “METHODS OF CONTROLLING MULTI-ZONE TINTABLE WINDOWS,”filed on Sep. 30, 2016, which claims benefit of and priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/236,032, titled “METHODS OFCONTROLLING MULTI-ZONE TINTABLE WINDOWS” and filed on Oct. 1, 2015;International PCT Application No. PCT/US16/55005 is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/094,897(issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,301,871), titled “MULTI-ZONE EC WINDOWS” andfiled on Apr. 8, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/137,644 (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,341,912),titled “MULTI-ZONE EC WINDOWS” and filed on Mar. 13, 2013; U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/137,644 is also a continuation-in-part ofInternational PCT application No. PCT/US13/69913 (designating the UnitedStates), filed on Nov. 13, 2013 and titled “MULTI-ZONE EC WINDOWS,”which claims benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/725,980, titled “MULTI-ZONE EC WINDOWS” and filed onNov. 13, 2012 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/740,651,titled “MULTI-ZONE EC WINDOWS” and filed on Dec. 21, 2012; U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/137,644 is also a continuation-in-part ofInternational PCT application No. PCT/US13/31098, filed on Mar. 13, 2013and titled “PINHOLE MITIGATION FOR OPTICAL DEVICES,” which claimsbenefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/610,241, titled “PINHOLE MITIGATION FOR OPTICAL DEVICES” and filed onMar. 13, 2012; each of these applications is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety and for all purposes.

FIELD

Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to window controllers andmethods for controlling smart windows, particularly tinting windowsgrouped in a zone of windows and/or tinting multi-zoned smart windowssuch as multi-zone electrochromic windows.

BACKGROUND

Electrochromism is a phenomenon in which a material exhibits areversible electrochemically-mediated change in an optical property whenplaced in a different electronic state, typically by being subjected toa voltage change. The optical property is typically one or more ofcolor, transmittance, absorbance, and reflectance. One well knownelectrochromic material is tungsten oxide (WO₃). Tungsten oxide is acathodic electrochromic material in which a coloration transition,transparent to blue, occurs by electrochemical reduction.

Electrochromic materials may be incorporated into, for example, windowsfor home, commercial and other uses. The color, transmittance,absorbance, and/or reflectance of such windows may be changed byinducing a change in the electrochromic material, that is,electrochromic windows are windows that can be darkened or lightenedelectronically. A small voltage applied to an electrochromic device ofthe window will cause them to darken and reversing the voltage causesthem to lighten. This capability allows control of the amount of lightthat passes through the windows, and presents an opportunity forelectrochromic windows to be used as energy-saving devices.

While electrochromism was discovered in the 1960s, electrochromicdevices, and particularly electrochromic windows, still unfortunatelysuffer various problems and have not begun to realize their fullcommercial potential despite many recent advances in electrochromictechnology, apparatus and related methods of making and/or usingelectrochromic devices.

SUMMARY

Thin-film optical devices, for example, electrochromic devices forwindows, and methods and window controllers for controlling transitionsand other functions of multi-zone tintable windows using such devicesare described herein. Certain embodiments comprise an electrochromicwindow having two or more tinting (or coloration) zones, e.g. formedfrom a monolithic electrochromic device coating as physically separatezones or where tinting zones are established in the monolithic devicecoating. Tinting zones may be defined by virtue of the means forapplying electrical potential to the electrochromic device and/or by aresistive zone between adjacent tinting zones and/or by physicalbifurcation of the device into tinting zones. For example, a set of busbars may be configured to apply potential across each of the separatetinting zones of the monolithic electrochromic device to tinting zonesselectively. Methods may also apply to a group of tintable windows,where individual windows of the group are tinted independently of othersin order to maximize occupant experience, i.e. glare control, thermalcomfort, etc.

Certain aspects pertain to an insulated glass unit (IGU) comprising afirst lite comprising a first electrochromic device disposed on a firsttransparent substrate and comprising a plurality ofindependently-controllable tinting zones and a resistive zone betweenadjacent independently-controllable tinting zones. The IGU furthercomprising a second lite and a spacer between the first and secondlites. In one case, the second lite comprises a second electrochromicdevice disposed on a second transparent substrate. In one case, the IGUfurther comprises a daylighting zone located, e.g., in a top portion ofthe IGU, wherein the daylighting zone comprises one or more tintingzones held in the bleached state to allow sunlight to pass through thefirst and second lites.

One aspect pertains to a control system for independently controllingtinting zones of a multi-zone tintable window. The control systemcomprises a window controller and multiple voltage regulators connectedin parallel to the window controller, each voltage regulator connectedto one bus bar of a tinting zone of multi-zone tintable window.

One aspect pertains to a control system for independently controllingtinting zones of a multi-zone tintable window. The control systemcomprises a plurality of subcontrollers, each subcontroller is connectedto a pair of bus bars of one of the tinting zones of the multi-zonetintable window and a window controller connected in series to theplurality of sub controllers.

Certain aspects pertain to methods of controlling tint in a plurality oftinting zones of a multi-zone window or a group (zone) of tintablewindows. The method determines a projection of direct sunlight througheach of the plurality of tinting zones of the multi-zone window or thegroup of tintable windows. The method also determines an intersectionbetween an occupancy region and the projections. The method thendetermines a tint level for each of the tinting zones (or tintablewindows) based on the intersection. In addition, the method providesinstructions to transition tint of one of the tinting zones (or tintablewindows) to the tint level determined for the tinting zone.

Certain aspects pertain to methods of controlling a multi-zone tintablewindow, or one or more tintable windows in a group of windows, in a roomof a building. The methods comprise determining whether the room islikely to be occupied. If the room is determined likely not to beoccupied, the methods determine a tint level for each tinting zone ofthe multi-zone tintable window, or a tint level for each window of agroup of tintable windows, based on energy control in the building. Ifthe room is determined likely to be occupied, the methods determine thetint level for each tinting zone of the multi-zone tintable window, orwindow of the group of tintable windows, based on one or more factorsincluding avoiding glare on an occupancy region in the room. The methodsalso provide instructions to transition each of the tinting zones orwindows to the determined tint level. In one case, if the room isdetermined likely to be occupied, determining the tint level for eachtinting zone is based on one or more factors including, in order ofpriority, avoiding glare on an occupancy region in the room, energycontrol, and daylighting. Methods include control of a group ofmulti-zoned tintable windows and monolithic tintable windows together.

These and other features and embodiments will be described in moredetail below with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a multi-zone tintable window withthree tinting zones having a bottom tinting zone in a lighter tintstate, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a multi-zone tintable window withfive tinting zones having a top tinting zone in a lighter tint state ina transom window configuration, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a multi-zone tintable window withtwo tinting zones having a top tinting zone in a lighter tint state thanthe bottom tinting zone, and with a resistive zone with a tintinggradient between the tinting zone, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a multi-zone tintable window withfive tinting zones with a middle tinting zone in a lighter tint state,according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic illustrations of a multi-faceted skylight,each facet having a multi-zone tintable window, according to anembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of an example of a multi-zonetintable window in the form of an IGU wherein the top region has aseries of light tubes directing light to the back of the room, accordingto an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective and a cross section, X-X′, of a multi-zoneelectrochromic window having a grid of 25 tinting zones in both thehorizontal and vertical direction, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective and a cross section, Y-Y′, of a multi-zoneelectrochromic window having many horizontally oriented tinting zones,according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of a window controller connected tomultiple voltage regulators in parallel, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of a window controller connected tomultiple subcontrollers in series, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows a left room and a right room, each with a tintablemulti-zone window, according to aspects of a daylighting configuration,according to embodiments.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are different views of a modeled building with severaltintable multi-zone windows, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a graph of the Daylight Glare Probability (DGP) on June 21,September 21 and December 21 from sunlight through a multi-zone windowin a room, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a graph of the indoor light levels on June 21, September 21and December 21 in the room described with respect to FIG. 9 , accordingto an embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a chart of a tinting schedule for the multi-zone windowincluding illuminance levels and DGP values, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a chart of a tinting schedule for a multi-zone window havingtwo zones and for a multi-zone window having three zones, according toan embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a chart showing the comparison of annualized daylight for atintable window having one tinting zone, a multi-zone tintable windowhaving two tinting zones that tint in a daylighting configuration, and amulti-zone tintable window having three tinting zones that tint in adaylighting configuration, according to embodiments.

FIG. 18 shows pie charts of the percentage of working hours at thedarkest tint 4 for a tintable window having one tinting zone, amulti-zone tintable window having two tinting zones that tint in adaylighting configuration, and a multi-zone tintable window having threetinting zones that tint in a daylighting configuration, according toembodiments.

FIG. 19 shows two illustrations of a room with daylighting zonesimulations, according to embodiments.

FIG. 20 shows charts of the green-blue coloration and luminance in thesimulated room with the daylighting tinting zone size varying in stepsof 5″.

FIG. 21 is an illustration of a room with multi-zone windows with agradient region having a width of 2″ according to an embodiment.

FIG. 22 is an illustration of a room with multi-zone windows with agradient region having a width of 5″ according to an embodiment.

FIG. 23 is an illustration of a room with multi-zone windows with agradient region having a width of 10″ according to an embodiment.

FIG. 24 is an illustration of a room with multi-zone windows with agradient region having a width of 15″ according to an embodiment.

FIG. 25 is an illustration of a room with multi-zone windows with agradient region having a width of 20″ according to an embodiment.

FIG. 26 is an illustration of a room with multi-zone windows with agradient region having a width of 30″ according to an embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a photograph of a manual control panel, according to anembodiment.

FIGS. 28A, 28B, and 28C are schematic drawings of a view of a roomhaving a multi-zone window and three-dimensional light projectionsthrough the tinting zones, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart of a control method for making tint decisionsused to control multiple tinting zones, for example, of a multi-zonetintable window, according to embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the presented embodiments.The disclosed embodiments may be practiced without some or all of thesespecific details. In other instances, well-known control operations havenot been described in detail to not unnecessarily obscure the disclosedembodiments. While the disclosed embodiments will be described inconjunction with the specific embodiments, it will be understood that itis not intended to limit the disclosed embodiments. Certain embodimentsdescribed herein, although not limited as such, work particularly wellwith electrochromic devices. Certain embodiments are described inrelation to controlling a tintable window having multiple tinting zones;the methods may also be used to tint individual windows in a group (orzone) of tintable windows, or combinations of such windows.

I. Introduction to Multi-Zone Tintable Windows

Certain implementations described herein are related to controllingtinting and other functions of multi-zone tintable windows, and morespecifically, to independently controlling each of the tinting (orcoloration) zones in a multi-zone tintable window. In someimplementations, the multi-zone tintable window is in the form of aninsulated glass unit comprised of two or more lites and a spacer sealedbetween the lites. Each multi-zone tintable window has at least onetintable lite with an optically switchable device. Some examples aredescribed herein with respect to a multi-zone tintable window having anelectrochromic lite with an electrochromic device disposed on thetransparent substrate. In these examples, the electrochromic litegenerally has one or more monolithic electrochromic (EC) devices, eachmonolithic EC device having multiple tinting (or coloration) zones. Inone implementation, the electrochromic lite has a monolithicelectrochromic (EC) device disposed over at least a portion of thesubstrate that is in the viewable area of the tintable window.

Detailed examples of methods of fabricating electrochromic lites withmultiple tinting zones can be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/137,644, titled “Multi-Zone EC Windows” and filed on Mar. 13, 2013,which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In oneimplementation, tinting zones of an electrochromic lite are defined byvirtue of a resistive region (also called a resistive zone) betweenadjacent tinting zones and/or by the different techniques used to applya potential to the electrochromic device to independently controltinting in the tinting zones. For example, a single set of bus bars ordifferent sets of bus bars can be configured to be able to applypotential independently to each tinting zone independently to therebytint them selectively. With respect to the above mentioned resistivezone, this region allows independently controllable tinting of adjacenttinting zones of a single electrochromic device without destroying thetinting functionality in the resistive zone itself. That is, theresistive zone can be tinted. One advantage of these techniques is thatscribe lines cutting through the electrochromic device between tintingzones are not used. These scribe lines can create non-functioning areasof the electrochromic device that can create a visually perceptiblebright line in the viewable area of the window when tinted. Moreover, aresistive zone can have gentle tinting gradient between adjacent tintingzones held in different tint states. This tinting gradient blends thetransition in tint between adjacent tinting zones to soften theappearance of the transition area between the tinting zones.

II. Multi-Zone Tinting Configurations

Certain implementations described herein are related to differenttinting configurations of one or more multi-zone tintable windows, eachmulti-zone tintable window having multiple independently-controllabletinting zones. In each multi-zone tinting configuration, various tintstates can be selected across the tinting zones to provide a particularbenefit(s) to an occupant of a building and/or for the building itself.As such, certain embodiments provide tinting methods that are based, atleast in part on occupancy of the space, whether actual or anticipatedoccupancy.

A. Goals of Occupant and/or Building

There are motivations to control tint states of a tintable window foroccupant benefit and/or considering the building alone, e.g. energysavings, power requirements and the like. Here, an “occupant” generallyrefers to an individual or individuals of a particular room having oneor more tintable windows being controlled and a “building” refers to thebuilding management system (BMS) together with lighting, HVAC systems,and other building systems. Motivations related to occupancy may includetheir general wellness that can be affected by lighting in the room andthe aesthetics of a tinted window or group of windows. Motivationsinclude, for example, controlling glare from direct sunlight onto anoccupant's workspace, visibility through the window to outside thebuilding (their “view”), color of the tintable window and associatedcolor of light in the room, and thermal comfort adjusted tint states toeither block or transmit direct sunlight into the room. Although anoccupant may want to generally avoid glare onto their workspace, theymay also want to allow some sunlight through the window for naturallighting. This may be the case where an occupant prefers sunlight overartificial lighting from, for example, incandescent, light-emittingdiode (LED), or fluorescent lighting. Also, it has been found thatcertain tintable windows may impart too much of a blue color to the roomin their darker tint states. This blue color is offset by allowing aportion of unfiltered daylight to enter the room. User motivationsrelated to the building include lowering energy use through reduction ofheating, air-conditioning, and lighting. For example, one might want totint the windows to transmit a certain amount of sunlight through thewindow so that less energy is needed for artificial lighting and/orheating. One may also want to harvest the sunlight to collect the solarenergy and offset heating demand.

Another consideration, perhaps shared by both the building manager andthe occupant is related to security concerns. In this regard, it may bedesirable for a window to be darkly tinted so that those outside a roomcannot see the occupant. Alternatively, it may be desirable that awindow be in a clear state so that, for example, neighbors or policeoutside the building can see inside the building to identify anynefarious activity. For example, a user or a building operator may set awindow in an “emergency mode” which in one case may clear the windows.

B. Glare Reduction Using Multi-Zone Designs and Tinting Configurations

In many cases, glare avoidance can be responsible for as much as 95% oftinting decisions made for tintable windows. Methods of making tintingdecisions in tintable windows that account for glare avoidance aredescribed in detail in PCT Application No. PCT/US15/29676, filed on May7, 2015 and titled “CONTROL METHOD FOR TINTABLE WINDOWS,” which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In these methods,using proprietary algorithms trademarked under the name Intelligence®(by View, Inc. of Milpitas, Calif.), glare is addressed in operations ofa Module A. In Module A, decisions are made to determine whether toadjust the tint state of a tintable window based on the penetrationdepth or glare region caused by solar radiation transmitted through thewindow into the room. If the penetration depth or glare region where thesolar radiation impacts the room overlaps with the position or likelyposition of an occupant (occupancy region), the tintable windows in thefaçade are held in or transitioned to a darker tint state in order toreduce glare on this occupancy region. Existing algorithms tint e.g. awhole group of windows associated with a building space based on glare,at the expense of other user comfort considerations.

Methods herein provide granularity and flexibility to tinting decisionsby independently tinting one or more windows of a group of windowsand/or individual zones of one or more multi-zone windows, e.g. toaddress glare while also allowing natural daylight into the space andthus address multiple user comfort issues and/or building systemsrequirements simultaneously. For example, reducing glare is an objectivethat is often inconsistent with reducing the heating load of a building,increasing natural lighting, etc. In the winter, for example, the energyused to heat a room by the heating system can be reduced by clearing atintable window to allow more solar radiation to enter the room, whichcan also generate a glare scenario in an occupancy region. In certainconfigurations described herein, a multi-zone tintable window (orindividual windows of a group of windows) can be controlled to addressthis concern by limiting the area of the window (or subset of group ofwindows) placed in a darkened tint to those tinting zones that reduceglare on the location or likely location of the occupant in the room.Although many examples are described herein with respect to controllingtinting zones in a multi-zone tintable window, it would be understoodthat similar techniques would apply to an assembly of multiple tintablewindows, each tintable window having one or more tinting zones. Forexample, an assembly of tintable windows can be controlled to limit thearea of the assembly of windows placed in a darkened tint to thosetintable windows and/or tinting zones within tintable windows thatreduces glare on the occupancy region.

Glare Reduction Tinting Configuration A

In one particular glare reduction configuration, a multi-zone tintablewindow is controlled to place (hold or transition) tinting zones in adarkened state that are in an area of the tintable window that canreduce glare on the location or likely location of an occupant whileplacing the other tinting zones of the multi-zone tintable window inlighter tint states to allow ambient light to enter, for example, toreduce heating/lighting. This configuration may be used for“daylighting.” As used herein, “daylighting” generally refers to anarchitectural strategy that uses natural light to satisfy illuminationrequirements and potential color offset while mitigating potentialvisual discomfort to occupants such as, for example, from glare. Glarecan be from direct sunlight shining onto the occupant's workspace or inthe eyes of the occupants. This configuration and other daylightingexamples described herein can provide benefits including the reductionof the blue color from light in the tinted zones due to visualperception change with added natural light in the room.

Examples of tinting zones that are controlled based on this glarereduction configuration are described below in certain cases withreference to a multi-zone tintable window having multiple independentlycontrollable tinting zones. It would be understood that these examplescan also apply in a similar way to an assembly of independentlycontrollable tintable windows or a combination of multi-zone windows andmonolithic tintable windows.

—Lighter Tinted Lower Zone(s)

In one example of this glare control configuration, the lower tintingzone(s) of a multiple zone window in vertical wall are controlled to betinted lighter than one or more higher tinting zones in the multi-zonewindow. The control configuration may be used, for example, in ascenario where the sun is at a mid to high position in the sky and thelower tinting zone or zones may be in a low location that receivessunlight at such an angle that direct sunlight does not penetrate deepinto the room and therefore does not create a glare in an occupancyregion located near the window. In this case, the lower tinting zone(s)can be cleared or controlled in a manner that allows maximum light intothe room and to minimize heat load needed to heat the room, while themiddle and/or top tinting zone(s) of the window can be darkened toreduce glare on the occupancy region.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an example of a multi-zonetintable window 100 with three vertically arranged tinting zones: afirst (top) tinting zone, a second (middle) tinting zone, and a third(lower) tinting zone, according to an embodiment. The multi-zonetintable window 100 is located in room 150 in an external vertical wallbetween the inside and outside of the building. The multi-zone tintablewindow 100 comprises a first tinting zone 102, a second tinting zone104, and third tinting zone 106. In this example, the second tintingzone 104 is between the first tinting zone 102 and the third tintingzone 106. Although three zones are used in this illustrated example,other numbers and arrangements of tinting zones can be used.

In the illustrated scenario shown in FIG. 1 , the sun is at a mid tohigh position in the sky. In this scenario, the tintable window iscontrolled such that the first tinting zone 102 and the second tintingzone 104 are in a darkened tint state and the third tinting zone 106 isin is lighter tint state (e.g., a bleached state). The third tintingzone 106 at the bottom of the window 100 is in a lighter tint state toallow natural light from the sun to enter the room from a high solarposition while the first and second tinting zones 102 and 104 are in adarkened tint state to avoid glare from sunlight projected onto theregion of the occupied desk. Without this tinting control configuration,sunlight through the first (top) tinting zone 102 and the second(middle) tinting zone 104 would shine onto the occupied region. Withthis configuration, sunlight through the third (lower) tinting zone 106enters the room projecting onto an unoccupied region of the room(depicted by arrows) which can help provide ambient light to the roomand heat the room while avoiding glare for the occupant.

—Lighter Tinted Top Zone(s)

In this example, a multi-zone tintable window is controlled such thathas a top area is lighter than the lower area. For example, the tintingzone (or multiple zones at the top) may be tinted lighter than one ormore tinting zones of the multi-zone tintable window or the top area ofthe window. In another example, the top area of the window may have atransparent substrate only (no optically switchable device). In theseexamples, the lighter top zone(s) can act in a similar fashion to a“transom window” by allowing natural ambient light to enter the room ata high level while controlling glare near the window. This example andothers daylighting examples described herein can provide benefitsincluding the reduction of the blue color from light in the tinted zonesdue to visual perception change with added natural light in the room.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of this example with a multi-zonetintable window 200 with five tinting zones, according to an embodiment.The multi-zone tintable window 200 is located in the external verticalwall of a room 250, between the inside and outside of a building. Themulti-zone tintable window 200 comprises a first tinting zone 202 at thetop of the window 200 and four other tinting zones 204, 206, 208, and210 below the first tinting zone 202.

In the illustrated scenario shown in FIG. 2 , the sun is at a highposition in the sky. In this scenario, the tinting zones are controlledsuch that the first tinting zone 202 is in a first tint state, thelightest tint state (e.g., bleached or clear state), and the othertinting zones 204, 206, 208, and 210 are in a second tint state that isdarker than the first tint state. With the illustrated tinting controlconfiguration, the first tinting zone 202 allows natural light from thesun at a high altitude to enter the room while preventing glare fromdirect sunlight projecting onto the occupancy region with the desk andthe occupant. Instead, the direct sunlight through the first tintingzone 202 projects (depicted by arrows) glare onto an unoccupied regionof the room. Although five zones are used in this illustrated example,other numbers and arrangements of tinting zones can be used.

In another example this glare configuration, a multi-zone tintablewindow may include a top transparent substrate only portion with nooptical device and a bottom portion with an optically switchable devicehaving one or more tinting zones. For example, the multi-zone tintablewindow may have a monolithic electrochromic device with one or moretinting zones at a bottom portion of the window and a daylightingtransparent substrate strip or zone at the top.

In another example of this glare configuration and possibly otherconfigurations for other purposes, a multi-zone tintable windowcomprises one or more tinting zones that can be controlled to have atinting gradient from one side to an opposing side, according to anembodiment. In one case, the top tinting zone has a tinting gradientthat starts at a bleached tint state at one side and increases in tinttoward the opposing side. That is, there is no abrupt change in tint asin physically separate zones, where high contrast between zones can bedistracting and unattractive to the end user.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of this example with a multi-zonetintable window 360 having a tinting gradient, according to anembodiment. The multi-zone tintable window 360 is located in theexternal vertical wall of a room 380, between the inside and outside ofa building. The multi-zone tintable window 360 comprises a first tintingzone 362 at the top of the window 360 and a second tinting zone 364below the first tinting zone 362. In the depicted illustration, thefirst tinting zone 362 is in a first tint state, which is the lightesttint state (e.g., bleached state), and the second tinting zone 364 is ina second tint state that is darker than the first tint state. With theillustrated tinting, the first tinting zone 362 allows natural lightfrom the sun at a high altitude to enter the room while preventing glarefrom direct sunlight projecting onto the illustrated occupancy regionhaving a desk and a seated occupant. The direct sunlight through thefirst tinting zone 362 projects (depicted by arrows) glare onto anunoccupied region at the back of the room. In this particular example,the multi-zone tintable window 360 also has a tinting gradient region366 comprising a resistive zone with a width. The tinting gradientregion 366 has a tinting gradient between the tint states of theadjacent first and second tinting zones 362 and 364. That is, thetinting gradient distance (or width) may be measured, e.g., from thebeginning of one zone where the % T begins to vary, through andincluding the change in % T into the adjacent zone, ending where the % Tof that second zone becomes constant. In one aspect, the width of thegradient portion is about 10″. In another aspect, the width of thegradient portion is in the range of 2″ to 15.″ In another aspect, thewidth of the gradient portion is in the range of 10″ to 15″. In oneaspect, the width of the gradient portion is about 5″. In one aspect,the width of the gradient portion is about 2″. In one aspect, the widthof the gradient portion is about 15″. In one aspect, the width of thegradient portion is about 20″. In one aspect, the width of the gradientportion is about 20″. In one aspect, the width of the gradient portionis at least about 10″. In one aspect, the width of the gradient portionis at least about 16″. In one aspect, the width of the gradient portioncovers the entire width or about the entire width of the multi-zonetintable window. In this case, the window can have a continuous gradientfrom light to dark across the entire window. In another aspect, thewidth of the gradient portion less than 5 inches.

—Lighter Tinted Middle Zone(s)

Although certain examples of multi-zone tintable windows in a glarereduction configuration have placed either the top zone(s) or lowerzone(s) in a lighter tint state, other examples may darken top or lowerzones to control glare while clearing or placing in a lighter tint stateone or more middle zones between the top and bottom zones. For example,a multi-zone tintable window located very low or high in a room may havehaving a tinting configuration that clears or placing in a lighter tintstate a middle zone or multiple middle zones. As another example, asingle multi-zone tintable window spanning multiple floors e.g., an openmezzanine or loft in a single room may have a tinting configuration thatclears a middle zone or multiple middle zones.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration a multi-zone tintable window 460 withfour tinting zones 462, 464, 466, and 468 in a room 480, according to anaspect. The room has a second mezzanine floor with two desks and a lowerfloor with a single desk. The multi-zone tintable window 460 is locatedin the external wall of a room 480, between the inside and outside of abuilding. The multi-zone tintable window 460 comprises a first tintingzone 462, a second tinting zone 468, and two middle zones 464 and 466between the first tinting zone 462 and the second tinting zone 468. Inthis illustration, the two middle tinting zones 464 and 466 are in afirst tint state (e.g., bleached state) and the other tinting zones 462and 468 are in a second tint state that is darker than the first tintstate. With the illustrated tinting, the middle tinting zones 464 and466 allow natural light from the sun to enter the room 480 between theoccupancy regions to reduce lighting/heating loads. This tinting alsoprevents glare from the direct sunlight projecting onto the occupancyregions on the mezzanine floor and the lower floor.

Although many examples of multi-zone tintable windows in a glarereduction configuration are described herein with multiple full widthtinting zones arranged along the length of the window, other examplesmay include full length tinting zones arranged along the width of thewindow. Alternatively, it is contemplated that a multi-zone tintablewindow may comprise rectangular tinting zones (digitized design)corresponding to a two-dimensional array of locations along the lengthand width of the window.

—Skylight Example

In another example of this glare reduction configuration, a skylightcomprises a plurality of multi-zone tintable windows at different facetsfacing different angles. Each window has multiple tinting zones, and themulti-zone windows are controlled as a group to allow ambient light toenter while controlling glare in occupied or likely occupied regions.

FIGS. 5A and 5B depict a schematic illustration of a skylight 500 withsix tintable multi-zone windows 502, 504, 506, 508, 510, and 512 in aroom 550 of a building, according to an embodiment. Although each of thesix tintable multi-zone windows 502, 504, 506, 508, 510, and 512 havetwo independently controllable tinting zones, other numbers of zones canbe used. In this example, each tinting zone of these multi-zone windowsis independently controllable and can be transitioned to four differenttint states including T1 (lightest), T2, T3, and T4. The illustrationsare of a cross-sectional view of the room 550 at the center of theskylight. In both illustrations, the sun is at the same position in thesky.

In FIG. 5A, both zones of each of the tintable windows 502, 504, 506,508, 510, and 512 are held at single tint state. That is, both zones oftintable multi-zone windows 502, 504, and 506 are at the lightest tintstate T1 (e.g., bleached tint state), both zones of tintable multi-zonewindow 508 is in tint state T3, and both zones of multi-zone tintablewindows 510 and 512 are in the darkest tint state T4. In this tintingconfiguration, natural light is allowed to enter through the threetintable multi-zone windows 502, 504, and 506 in the lightest tint stateT1, light is somewhat allowed to enter through the tintable window 508in tint state T3, and light is restricted from entering through thethree tintable windows 510 and 512 in the darkest tint state T4. In thisillustration, the tintable multi-zone windows 502, 504, and 506 in thelightest tint state T1 allow natural light from the sun to enter theroom while preventing glare from the sunlight projecting (depicted asparallel arrows) onto the occupied area with tables.

In FIG. 5B, different zones of multi-zone tintable windows 506 and 510of the skylight 550 are controlled to be at different tint states. Inthis example, both zones of windows 502 and 504 and the first zone ofwindow 506 are at the lightest tint state T1 (e.g., bleached tintstate). These zones are at the lightest tint state since direct sunlightdoes not impinge upon them so that tinting these windows is noteffective in preventing glare into the room 550. In the illustration,the second zone of window 506, both zones of multi-zone tintable window506, and the first zone of window 508 are at tint state T3. These zonesare at the second to darkest tint state to allow some direct sunlight toenter room in unoccupied areas in order to reduce lighting/heatingloads. Also, the second zone of window 508, and both zones of window 512are in the darkest tint state T4. These zones are at the darkest tintstate to restrict direct sunlight from entering room and projectingglare onto the occupied area of the room 550. In this tintingconfiguration, natural light is allowed to enter through the tintablemulti-zone windows 502 and 504, and the first zone of window 506 in thelightest tint state T1, light is somewhat allowed to enter through thesecond zone of window 705, both zones of window 508 and the first zoneof window 510 in tint state T3, and light is restricted from enteringthrough the second zone of window 510 and both zones of 512 in thedarkest tint state T4. In comparison with the tinting shown in FIG. 5A,the tinting of different zones illustrated in FIG. 5B allows more lightto enter the room 550 while still preventing sunlight projecting glareonto the occupied region with the tables.

In certain implementations, a multi-zone tintable window comprisesmultiple lites in, for example, the form of an insulated glass unit(IGU) having a spacer sealed between lites. Another example is alaminate construction. Any of the tinting configurations shown anddescribed with respect to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5A and 5B can be used for asingle lite or for one or more lites of an IGU or a laminateconstruction.

Glare Reduction Tinting Configuration B.

In one glare reduction tinting configuration, a multi-zone tintablewindow comprises a first multi-zone tintable lite in combination with asecond mate lite that has either multiple tint zones or a single tintzone. In this tinting configuration, the combined transmissivity oflight through multiple lites can be used to provide lower transmissivitythan a single lite. For example, the reduced level of trasmissivitythrough two tintable lites in an area where both lites are tinted to adarkest tint state may be below 1% T. This reduced transmissivitythrough the area of combined multiple tinted lites can be used toprovide increased glare control in a multi-zone tintable window. Thatis, transmissivity of lower than 1% may be desired by some end users,for example, to further reduce glare. In these cases, a multi-zonetintable window with multiple lites can be used to reduce transmissivityof lower than 1% as needed.

In one implementation of this tinting configuration, a multi-zonetintable window is in the form of an IGU with multiple lites, each litehaving one or more tinting zones that can be tinted to reduce glare. Atcertain times of the year/day, tinting of the upper region of the windowis appropriate because the sun is at an altitude such that sunlightthrough the upper region is a primary cause of glare across all portionsof the window that receives sunlight. In other cases, other regions ofthe multi-zone tintable window may also benefit from this tinting. Forexample, a lower portion might as well.

According to one aspect, the regions of a multi-zone window that aredetermined by a control method to be the most appropriate for tinting toreduce glare are those that do not have a good view potential for theoccupant. In other words, when an occupant is in their typical locationin the room, it would be desirable if they can see out the window, forexample, to view weather patterns. In one example, the control methoddetermines to hold or transition the tint states of certain tintingzones to darker tint states to control glare on an occupancy region onlyif the region of the tinted zones does not block the view for anoccupant.

In certain implementations, a multi-zone tintable window in the form ofan IGU is controlled to have tint states that balance glare control withreduced energy consumption. In one case, the mate lite of the IGU mayhave one or more tinting zones that are designed to always or nearlyalways reduce glare. Although a mate lite generally refers to anysubstrate of the IGU, in one case, a mate lite is a substrate of the IGUon which the optically switchable device (e.g., electrochromic device)does not reside.

In one aspect, the mate lite or possibly some other structure in the IGUcan be designed to direct sunlight in a horizontal direction regardlessof the relative altitude of the sun with respect to the window position.The mechanism for directing light in a horizontal direction may includea very granular group of slats or window blinds structure in theinterior of the IGU or the exterior of the IGU or associated with a matelite. In one example, small mechanical blinds may be built into anelectrically controllable region of the mate lite to redirect light. Asanother example, a series of light tubes may reside external or internal(region between lites) to the IGU to direct sunlight in a substantiallyhorizontal direction.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of an example of a multi-zonetintable window 690 in the form of an IGU in vertical wall of a room699, according to an embodiment. The IGU comprises an inner EC lite andan outer EC lite and a spacer (not shown) between the lites. The innerEC lite comprises a first tinting zone 693, a second tinting zone 696,and a third tinting zone 697. The outer EC lite comprises a firsttinting zone 694 and a second tinting zone 698. In a top portion 692 ofthe window 690, the region 695 between the lites has a series of lighttubes comprising reflective inner surfaces for channeling light. Inother embodiments, region 695 may include light scattering elements,reflectors, diffusers, microshades (or similar MEMS devices) or thelike. In this tinting configuration, the tinting zones 693 and 694 arecleared to allow sunlight to be transmitted, while directing orpreventing the light from impinging on the occupant and thus avoiding aglare situation, while still allowing natural light into the space. Inthis configuration, sunlight passes through the tinting zone 694 at theouter surface of the outer EC lite at the top portion 692, is channeledthrough the light tubes, and is transmitted through the tinting zone 693of the inner EC lite in the clear state. In some cases, the light may bedirected somewhat to the back of the room as depicted. With theillustrated tinting configuration, the top portion 692 of the window 690allows natural light from the sun at a position of high altitude toenter the room while preventing glare from the direct sunlight on theoccupancy region with the desk and the occupant.

In another implementation, one or more of the lites of an IGU may have aregion with a diffusing light source such that light impinging on thisregion is diffused or scattered so as to eliminate potential glare onthe occupancy region. The diffusion or scattering may be achieved byapplying a diffusing film or light directing film to the region. Thesefilms contain many scattering centers or other ways to allow light inbut at the same time reduce the direct rays upon an occupancy region.

C. Adjusting Color Perception

Other implementations for controlling tintable windows in a particularway can reduce color perception of the tinted or bleached state windowand/or of the color of light passing through the tinted or bleachedstate window. These implementations make use of optical properties thatminimize perception of an undesirable color associated with a particulartint state.

As one example, a darkened tint state of an optically switchable device,e.g., electrochromic device, may have a blue color which may beperceivable to an occupant. However, if a tinted zone in the room isjuxtaposed with a clear zone through which much daylight shines, theblue color of the tinted zone may be less noticeable to the occupant.For example, a particular tinting zone of a multi-zone window may be ina darker tint state and might appear blue to the occupant. In oneimplementation of a glare reduction tinting configuration, adjacent ornearby windows and/or tinting zones can be placed in a clear state aslong as they do not create glare for the occupant due to their relativeposition. The light coming through the clear zones can reduce theperception of blue color that the occupant might otherwise perceive.

In another implementation, a diffusing light source such as a diffusingor scattering film adhered to tintable window may reduce the perceptionof blue color in the tinted zone. For example, a diffusing or scatteringfilm may be disposed on a mate lite to an electrochromic lite of an IGU.In another example, a diffusing or scattering film may be disposed on asurface of the lite without the optically switchable device such as anelectrochromic device.

D. Light Harvesting Tinting Configurations

Other multi-zone tinting configurations may involve maximizing lightharvesting. Light harvesting is a concept by which solar radiation fromoutside the window is converted into electrical energy for use by thewindow, by the building, or for another purpose. Light harvesting can beaccomplished using a photovoltaic film, other photovoltaic structure, orother light harvesting structure on an appropriate portion of a windowsuch as on the mate lite of an IGU. In one example, light harvesting isaccomplished with a photovoltaic cell provided in or on the windowcontaining the multi-zone electrochromic device.

One consideration is that photovoltaic cells or other light harvestingstructures may be most efficient when incident light being collectedcomes at a normal or nearly normal direction. This can be facilitated byhaving a structure in the window that redirects incident light on thewindow to strike the photovoltaic cell at a normal or nearly normaldirection to maximize energy generation. In some cases, a light diffuseror a horizontally directing structure such as described above withreference to FIG. 6 , can be used on a portion of a tintable window todirect light onto the photovoltaic film, other photovoltaic structure,or other light harvesting structure on an appropriate portion of awindow such as on the mate lite.

Another consideration is that it may be desired in normal situations forphotovoltaic films on a mate lite to be as transparent as possible.However, photovoltaic films made to be transparent are often relativelyinefficient at converting sunlight to electrical energy in comparison tomore opaque films or not just opaque films but rather films that perhapsscatter light more. Recognizing that there may be certain zones in aregion of a window that are normally responsible for preventing a glarescenario in the room, and therefore normally must be tinted and/or thatthere may be certain zones outside this region where an occupant wouldnormally be able to view the outside environment. In one implementation,the tinting zones in this region are provided with more efficient forlight harvesting, but more scattering or opaque photovoltaic films, thanthe zones outside this region. In another implementation, the tintingzones in this region are provided with photovoltaic films and the zonesoutside this region do not have photovoltaic films.

As with the scenario described with respect to FIG. 6 , e.g., whereincoming light is horizontally directed, reflected, scattered ordiffused in an upper region of a window because that region producesmost of the glare, similarly, an upper region of a tintable window canbe outfitted with a more efficient, yet less optically pleasing type ofphotovoltaics films, according to another implementation.

—Locations of Photovoltaic Cell on IGU Lite Faces

In certain implementations, a tintable window includes a photovoltaic(PV) cell/panel. The PV panel may be positioned anywhere on the windowas long as it is able to absorb solar energy. For instance, the PV panelmay be positioned wholly or partially in the viewable area of a window,and/or wholly or partially in/on the frame of a window. Details ofexamples of electrochromic windows with a PV cell/panel can be found inU.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/247,719, titled“PHOTOVOLTAIC-ELECTROCHROMIC WINDOWS” and filed on Mar. 25, 2016, whichis hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The PV cell/panel may be implemented as a thin film that coats one ormore surfaces of a lite of a tintable widow. In certain implementations,the tintable window is in the form of an IGU with two individual lites(panes), each having two surfaces (not counting the edges). Countingfrom the outside of the building inwards, the first surface (i.e., theoutside-facing surface of the outer pane) may be referred to as surface1 (S1), the next surface (i.e., the inside-facing surface of the outerpane) may be referred to as surface 2 (S2), the next surface (i.e., theoutside-facing surface of the inner pane) may be referred to as surface3 (S3), and the remaining surface (i.e., the inside-facing surface ofthe inner pane) may be referred to as surface 4 (S4). The PV thin filmmay be implemented on any one or more of surfaces 1-4.

In certain examples, a PV film is applied to at least one of the litesurfaces in an IGU or other multi-lite window assembly. Examples ofsuitable PV films are available from Next Energy Technologies Inc. ofSanta Barbara, Calif. PV films may be organic semiconducting inks, andmay be printed/coated onto a surface in some cases.

Conventionally, where a PV cell is contemplated for use in combinationwith a multi-zone electrochromic window, the EC device is positionedtoward the building interior relative to the PV cell/panel such that theEC device does not reduce the energy gathered by the PV cell/panel whenthe EC device is in a tinted state. As such, the PV cell/panel mayimplemented on the outside-facing surface of the outer pane (lite) e.g.,on surface 1 of an IGU. However, certain sensitive PV cells cannot beexposed to external environmental conditions and therefore cannotreliably be implemented outside-facing surface. For example, the PV cellmay be sensitive to oxygen and humidity.

To address air and water sensitivity of such PV films, a film may bepositioned on surface 2 or 3, which helps protect the film from exposureto oxygen and humidity. In some cases, the stack of electrochromicmaterials is positioned on surface 3 and the PV thin film is positionedon surface 2. In another example, the stack of electrochromic materialsis positioned on surface 2 and the PV film is positioned on surface 3.

In one aspect, a PV film is positioned on S3 and the multi-zone windowhas the EC device with multiple tinting zones on S2. In this case, oneor more zones may be held in a bleached tint state such as in adaylighting tinting zone (e.g., in a transom window configuration) thatallows natural light into the room at a high level. In this case, thesunlight is fed to the PV film on S3 while the other zones (e.g., lowerzones in transom window configuration) can remain tinted, for example,for glare control. In this case, the PV film receives sunlight and isnot starved for light.

E. Resistive Zones

In certain implementations, resistive zones are configured along an areaat the between adjacent tinting zones of the monolithic EC device of amulti-zone window. These resistive zones may allow for more uniformtinting fronts, e.g., when used in combination with bus bar poweringmechanisms. In certain embodiments, the resistive zones may be narrow,e.g. between about 1 mm and 1000 mm wide, or may be wider, e.g. betweenabout 1 mm and about 10 mm wide. The EC materials in resistive zonestint, they do not leave a bright line contrast effect typical ofconventional laser isolation scribes. Thus, in other embodiments, aresistive zone may be, for example, wider than 1 mm, wider than 10 mm,wider than 15 mm, etc.

The reason a resistive zone tints is because it is not a physicalbifurcation of the EC device into two devices, but rather a physicalmodification of the single EC device and/or its associated transparentconductors within a resistive zone. The resistive zone is an area of theEC device where the activity of the device, specifically the electricalresistivity and/or resistance to ion movement is greater than for theremainder of the EC device. Thus one or both of the transparentconductors may be modified to have increased electrical resistivity inthe resistive zone, and/or the EC device stack may be modified so thation movement is slower in the resistive zone relative to the EC devicestack in the adjacent tinting zones. The EC device still functions,tints and bleaches, in this resistive zone, but at a slower rate and/orwith less intensity of tint than the remaining portions of the ECdevice. For example, the resistive zone may tint as fully as theremainder of EC device in the adjacent tinting zones, but the resistivezone tints more slowly than the adjacent tinting zones. In anotherexample, the resistive zone may tint less fully than the adjacenttinting zones or at a tint gradient.

As used herein, a “resistive zone” is an area in the EC device where oneor more layers of the EC device have their function impaired, eitherpartially or completely, but device function is not cut off across thetinting zone. For example, one or both of the TCOs shown in FIG. 7 mayhave a higher resistance to electrical flow in the resistive zone thanin rest of the adjacent tinting zones. Thus, e.g., if a tinting zone 1is activated, electrons flow across the TCOs at a given rate, but thatflow is restricted along resistive zone. This allows the electrons to besufficiently retained in tinting zone 1 and thus leak more slowly acrossresistive zone than otherwise would be the case if TCO function had notbeen impaired there. Resistive zone could be thought of as a “dam” forelectrical flow, impairing rate of electrical flow across it, the flowcan be partially or fully impaired in one or both TCOs, for example. Dueto the restricted or slowed rate of electrical flow across resistivezone, ion intercalation in the EC stack between the TCOs at resistivezone is also impaired. Because the EC device is not physically cut intotwo devices, this is unlike conventional devices having zones created byphysical bifurcation of a single device. Resistive zone may also havephysical impairment of ion flow in one or more of the EC material layersas well. In one example, both the top and bottom TCO's electricalconductivity is impaired, either partially or fully, in resistive zone,but the function of the EC device stack layers is substantiallyunchanged. Thus, when one tinting zone is tinted and the adjacent zoneis not-tinted, the device will tint in the resistive zone. When adjacenttinting zones are both tinted, there is no bright line discernible tothe end user, because the device tints in resistive zone and in fact,may have a tinting gradient. Details of resistive zones and otherfeatures of multi-zone electrochromic windows are described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/039,370, titled “MULTI-ZONE EC WINDOWSand filed on May 25, 2016 and PCT application PCT/US14/71314, titled“MULTI-ZONE EC WINDOWS and filed on Dec. 18, 2014, both of which arehereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

In one aspect, a resistive zone may be fabricated, for example, byexposure of the area at the resistive zone to irradiation, e.g. laser orheat source, in order to modify but not destroy the function atresistive zone. For example, one or both of the TCO layers may be heatedsufficiently to change the morphology while retaining the function,albeit impaired relative to the remainder of the TCO layers in thetinting zones. In certain embodiments, it is advantageous to impair thefunction of only one TCO in a resistive zone. Resistive zones may alsobe created by impairing the function of one or more layers of the ECdevice (or one or both TCOs) by chemical doping. For example, in oneembodiment the lower TCO is treated along a line (at resistive zone,e.g.) with heat and oxygen to create a more resistive TCO at theresistive zone. In another embodiment, one or both TCOs are fabricatedthinner along the resistive zone than the rest of the TCOs, e.g. TCOmaterial may be removed, but not cut through, along the resistive zone.

F. Glare Reduction Using Multi-Zone Window with Many Tinting Zones

Recognizing that it might be desirable to tint the smallest amount ofarea possible to reduce glare, a multi-zone window may be designed withmany tinting zones. In some aspects, individual tinting zones might havea width/length as small as a millimeter or even a few micrometers. Inone aspect, one or more tinting zones of a window have a width/length ofabout a millimeter. In one aspect, one or more tinting zones of a windowhave a width/length in the range of about 2-5 micrometers. In oneaspect, one or more tinting zones of a window have a width/length in therange of about 3-5 micrometers. Bus bars or other contacts to thetinting zones can be made very thin to be almost imperceptible.

FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view (top) of a multi-zone electrochromicwindow 700 having twenty five (25) tinting zones 715 and a crosssectional view, X-X′, of the multi-zone electrochromic window 700,according to an embodiment. Each tinting zone 715 is configured with apair of bus bars 712, for example, transparent bus bars. Thus tintingzones 715 can be colored independently by virtue of operation or therespective bus bar pairs 712 at each tinting zone 715. In otherembodiments, multiple tinting zones may be configured between a singleset of bus bars (e.g., two or more bus bars located on opposing edges).The illustrated multi-zone electrochromic window 700 may be incorporatedinto an IGU with a spacer and a mate lite. Between adjacent tintingzones, there is a resistive zone 710.

The cross section, X-X, spans the tinting zones 715 of the multi-zoneelectrochromic window 700 as well as the resistive zones 710 (only thebus bars on the top TCO are depicted in cross section X-X, they areorthogonal to resistive zones in this example). Cross section X-X (lowerportion) is not to scale, but rather a schematic representation of thestructure of the multi-zone electrochromic window 700. Although theresistive zones 710 are depicted as located through the entire ECdevice, these resistive zones 710 may be located through a portion ofthe EC device such as through one or both of the TCO layers according toother aspects. On the glass substrate is an EC device including a firsttransparent conducting oxide layer, TCO 1, a second transparentconductive oxide layer, TCO 2, and sandwiched in between the TCOs is anEC device stack which contains one or more electrochromic materials,e.g., the transitions of which are driven byintercalation/de-intercalation of ions, such as lithium ions.

—Many Horizontally-Oriented or Vertically-Oriented Tinting Zones

In one aspect, a multi-zone window comprises many horizontally-orientedtinting zones where each zone has a pair of bus bars. This configurationallows for a large number of tinting options. This configurationprovides for “tunable” zoning in the window since a much greater varietyof zones are available to tint and these many zones can provide animproved curtaining effect when tinting. In one example, the hardwareneeded to control tinting of such a multi-zone window is essentially aseries of voltage regulators, one for each zone, and collectively allthe VRs being controlled by a single window controller via acommunication bus. Thus, a window controller includes these multiple VRsfor multi-zone use. A good application of such a window is, e.g., wherethere is an overhang over the window. As the sun's angle changes, theshadow on the window will grow or shrink. Having more granular zone“strips” can be used to automatically track where the shadow is, and/orwhere the glare is too high, tinting corresponding to where the sun isactually hitting the glass in real time. In some cases, input fromsensors (e.g., illuminance sensors) can be used to determine where thesunlight is striking the window.

FIG. 8 is a perspective and a cross section, Y-Y′, of a multi-zoneelectrochromic window 720 having twelve (12) horizontally-orientedtinting zones 725, according to an embodiment. Each tinting zone 725 isconfigured with a pair of bus bars 722. Thus the tinting zones 725 canbe colored independently by virtue of operation or the respective busbar pairs 722 at each tinting zone. In other embodiments, multipletinting zones may be configured between a single set of bus bars (e.g.,two or more bus bars located on opposing edges). The multi-zoneelectrochromic window 720 may be incorporated into an IGU with a spacerand a mate lite. Between adjacent tinting zones 725, there is aresistive zone 730. The cross section, Y-Y′, spans the tinting zones 725of the multi-zone electrochromic window 720 as well as the resistivezones 730 (only the bus bars on the top TCO are depicted in crosssection Y-Y′, they are orthogonal to resistive zones in this example).Cross section Y-Y′ (lower portion) is not to scale, but rather aschematic representation of the structure of the multi-zoneelectrochromic window 720. On the transparent substrate (e.g., glass) isan EC device including a first transparent conducting oxide layer, TCO1, a second transparent conductive oxide layer, TCO 2, and sandwiched inbetween the TCOs is an EC stack which contains one or moreelectrochromic materials, e.g., the transitions of which are driven byintercalation/de-intercalation of ions, such as lithium ions. Althoughthe resistive zones 730 are depicted as located through the entire ECdevice, these resistive zones may be located through a portion of the ECdevice such as through one or both of the TCO layers according to otheraspects.

F. Other Examples of Window Configurations

—Room with Multi-Zone Windows Having Different Configurations

In another implementation, multiple horizontally and/or verticallyseparated multi-zone windows may be located in a room. In one example,one or more of the center or interior windows in the room havehorizontally oriented tinting zones, while the left and right windowsand perhaps some other adjacent peripheral windows have verticallyoriented zones.

—Vertically Oriented Tinting Zones

Keeping with the concept of minimizing the window area used to reduceglare, one implementation includes an assembly of vertically-arrangedtintable windows and/or window(s) with vertically-oriented tintingzones. In this implementation, the tinting of the windows/zones can becontrolled to adjust for glare at different azimuthal variations insolar angle.

—Both Vertically-Oriented and Horizontally-Oriented Tinting Zones of aMulti-Zone Window

In one tinting configuration, a single large window includes bothvertically-oriented and horizontally-oriented zones. For example, thehorizontally-oriented tinting zones may be in a center region of thewindow and the vertically-oriented tinting zones may be in the left andright outer peripheral regions of the window. In this example, theelectrical leads may be routed into the interior regions of the windowto control the interior horizontally oriented zones. In some cases,transparent leads may be used.

—Multi-Zone Windows with Non-EC Films

In certain implementations, a multi-zone window includes anelectrochromic device or other optically switchable device. In otherimplementations, a multi-zone window includes an optically switchabledevice and/or a PV film. In another implementation, a multi-zone windowincludes an optically switchable device and/or a thermochromic orphotochromic material layer. Some description of windows having atinting zone with thermochromic or photochromic material can be found inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/145,892, titled “MULTI-PANE DYNAMICWINDOW AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME” and filed on Jun. 25, 2008, which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

III. Controller Designs and Hardware for Implementing Multi-ZoneConfigurations

A. Window Controller for Independent Control of Multiple Tinting Zones

In certain aspects, a single window controller or multiple windowcontrollers are used to independently control multiple zones of a singleelectrochromic device of a multi-zone tintable window. In a firstdesign, a single window controller is electrically communicating withmultiple voltage regulators. In a second design, a main windowcontroller is electrically communicating with multiple subcontrollers.In some cases, each multi-zone tintable window includes a memory, chipor card that stores information about the window, including physicalcharacteristics, production information (date, location, fabricationparameters, lot number, etc.), and the like. The memory, chip or cardmay be part of an onboard window controller or not, e.g. in a wiringharness, pigtail and/or connector to which the window controllerconnects. Window controllers, whether on or part of the window or not,that control multi-zone tintable windows are described herein. Otherinformation that may be included in the memory are described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/049,756, titled “MULTIPURPOSE CONTROLLERFOR MULTISTATE WINDOWS” and filed on Mar. 16, 2011 and in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/951,410, titled “SELF-CONTAINED EC IGU” andfiled on Nov. 24, 2015, both of which are incorporated by referenceherein for all purposes.

—Controller Design 1

As mentioned above, a window controller according to the first design isconnected to multiple voltage regulators, which it controls. Eachvoltage regulator is in electrical communication with one of the tintingzones. In one embodiment, the voltage regulators are onboard, i.e. partof the window assembly, e.g. in the secondary seal of an insulated glassunit. They maybe be physically separate from the controller, or part ofthe controller, whether the controller is onboard or separate from thewindow. The window controller is in electrically communication with eachvoltage regulator to be able to independently instruct each voltageregulator to deliver voltage to its own tinting zone. Each voltageregulator delivers current to only one of two bus bars in a particulartinting zone. This design involves multiple voltage regulators, one foreach tinting zone, and collectively all the voltage regulators beingcontrolled by a single window controller via a communication bus (notdepicted).

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram a window controller 740 connected to five(5) voltage regulators 745, according to this first design. Each voltageregulator 745 is electrically connected to one of the bus bars of acorresponding tinting zone 752 and to the window controller 740. In thisexample, the window controller 740 instructs each voltage regulator 745to independently deliver voltage to its own tinting zone 752. Eachvoltage regulator 745 delivers current to only one of two bus bars onits tinting zone 752. In this way, each zone 752 may be independentlytinted relative to the other zones 752.

Another structural feature of this first design is that each of thevoltage regulators is directed or connected to only one of the bus barsin the respective zone of the multi-zone electrochromic device. The busbars of the zones that oppose the voltage-regulated bus bars all receivethe same voltage from the window controller. This presents a challengeif one of the tinting zones needs to be driven in an opposite directionfrom that of the other zones because the polarity on the two bus barscannot be reversed if the voltage applied to the other zones isinconsistent with such reversed polarity.

In this design, each voltage regulator is a simple design that has logic(e.g., instructions stored on memory and retrieved for execution by aprocessor) for applying a voltage as instructed by the windowcontroller. A local window controller includes logic with instructionsfor implementing roles comprising: 1) communicating with higher levelwindow controllers, 2) to step down power if necessary, 3) anddetermining the actual voltage that should be applied to each of theindividual tinting zones. As an example of communication with higherlevel window controllers, the local window controller may receiveinstructions to place each of the individual zones in respective tintstates. The window controller may then interpret this information anddecide how to best accomplish this result by driving transitions byapplying appropriate drive voltages, hold times, ramp profiles, holdvoltages, etc. Details of control instructions for driving transitionsin optically switchable windows are described in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/449,248, filed on Apr. 17, 2012 and titled “CONTROLLER FOROPTICALLY-SWITCHABLE WINDOWS,” and in in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/449,251, filed on Apr. 17, 2012 and titled “CONTROLLER FOROPTICALLY-SWITCHABLE WINDOWS,” both of which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entireties.

—Controller Design 2

In a second design, a separate subcontroller is used to control each ofthe tinting zones. In this design, the subcontrollers receive generaltint instructions from a main window controller. For example, the main(upper-level) window controller may send a signal to the subcontrollerwith tint instructions to drive a transition of a particular tintingzone to a new tint state. The subcontroller comprises memory thatincludes control instructions for driving transitions includinginstructions that determine the appropriate drive voltage, hold time,ramp profile, etc. necessary to drive transitions. The main windowcontroller for the multi-zone window is in communication with higherlevel control entities on the control network main window controlleralso functions to step the power from the power source to an appropriatelevel for the subcontrollers to perform their functions.

In this design, each subcontroller has leads going to each bus bar ofthe respective tinting zone for which it is responsible. In this way,the polarity across the pair of bus bars for each zone can beindependently controlled. If one of the tinting zones needs to be drivenin an opposite polarity from that of the other zones, the polarity onthe two bus bars can be reversed with this design. This is an advantageover the first design, because each zone can be independently tinted orcleared.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a single window controller connectedto five subcontrollers (SWCs) 770, according to this second design. Eachsubcontroller 770 has two leads going to the bus bars of a correspondingtinting zone 762. In this example, the SWCs 770 are electricallyconnected in series with the one SWC 770 at the end of the seriesconnected to main window controller 780. In this example, the windowcontroller 780 sends a signal to a subcontroller 770 with tintinstructions to drive a transition of its associated tinting zone 762.

B. Photovoltaic Power

In certain implementations, a multi-zone window comprises a PV film orother light harvesting device, which can harvest energy converting thesolar energy to provide electrical power to the window controller andother window devices. Some examples of multi-zone tintable windows witha PV film are described above.

C. Onboard Window Controller

In some aspects, a multi-zone window may have a window controller thatis an onboard controller. Details of examples of onboard controllers aredescribed in U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/085,179, filed on Nov.26, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

D. Wireless Powering

According to one aspect, a multi-zone window may be powered wirelessly,for example through RF, magnetic induction, or lasers or microwaveenergy, etc. Details regarding the components of a wireless poweredwindow can be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/971,576titled “WIRELESS POWERED ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICES,” filed on Jun. 23,2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

In one aspect, a multi-zone tintable window comprises an RF antenna thatconverts RF power into an electrical potential used to power thetransition of one or more tinting zones in the multi-zone tintablewindow. The RF antenna may be located in the frame of the multi-zonewindow or in another structure (e.g., spacer of an IGU). For example,the RF antenna may be located in the spacer of an IGU having multiplelites with at least one lite comprising a multi-zone electrochromicdevice. The RF antenna receives RF signals from a RF transmitter. In onecase, the RF transmitter provides RF signals to multiple RF antennas.Details regarding examples of antennas are described in PCT applicationPCT/US15/62387, titled “WINDOW ANTENNAS” and filed on Nov. 24, 2015,which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

IV. Control Logic for Controlling Functions of Multi-Zone Windows

In certain implementations, control logic used to determine tintdecisions for groups of windows can operate similarly to control logicused to determine tint decisions for multiple tinting zones in a windowor individual windows of a group of windows. That is, the control logicfor multiple windows determines a tint state for each window accordingthe location and direction of the window. The control logic for multiplezones of a window would determine a tint state for each zone of thewindow according to the location and direction of the zone. An exampleof control logic for determining tint decisions for multiple windows andtransitioning the windows to the determined tint states can be found inPCT application PCT/US15/29675, filed on May 5, 2015 and titled “CONTROLMETHOD FOR TINTABLE WINDOWS,” which is hereby incorporated by referencein its entirety. In certain aspects, certain operations of this controllogic may be adapted to determine tinting decisions for multiple tintingzones and powering transitions according to the tinting decisions asdescribed herein.

In some aspects, control logic may be adapted to address the visualtransition in tinting within a particular tinting zone and/or betweenadjacent tinting zones. For example, the control logic may include logicthat determines tint states that create a sharp contrast betweendifferent tint states in different zones or to create diffuse blendingof color from zone to zone, e.g. using resistive zone technology. Asdiscussed above, a resistive zone (rather than a physical bifurcation)between adjacent tinting zones can be used to generate a tintinggradient between adjacent zones. The tinting gradient is generallypresent across the width of the resistive zone and thus, the visualtransition is more gradual, the greater the width of the resistive zone.The control logic may be adapted to account for the tinting gradient inthe resistive zone and/or may be adapted to apply a gradient voltagealong the length of the bus bars of a tinting zone to generate a tintinggradient within the tinting zone (or a monolithic EC device film). Inone example, a bus bar may be tapered to apply a gradient voltage alongthe length and generate a length-wise tinting gradient. In anotheraspect, control logic may be adapted to control windows with manytinting zones to determine tint states that will blend the color throughthe many zones. In one aspect, control logic may be adapted to controlthe tint state of a series of adjacent zones such that there is not tooabrupt of a transition from a zone that needs to be particularly dark tothe zone that needs to be particularly clear.

Another modification to control logic may involve a separate routine(e.g., a module beyond Modules A-D of the PCT application PCT/US15/29675which describes aspects of Intelligence® as described above) forapplying considerations associated with the additional features of amulti-zone window beyond the usual considerations of glare control,view, natural lighting, occupant thermal comfort, building energymanagement, etc. For example, where light harvesting is a motivation,then an additional module may have to be built on the control logic toaddress the additional consideration. The order in which thefunctionality for addressing that additional feature or function of thetinting zone sits in a processing pipeline for the usual considerationsmay be irrelevant in some cases. For example, the Intelligence® modulesdo not necessarily need to operate in the following order: A→B→C→D inone case. It would be understood that it is possible that the order ofexecution of the modules does matter in other cases.

The control logic may also be adjusted to account for highly localizedglare control across multiple zones. For example, this can be addressedwith a modification to module A of the control logic described in detailin PCT application PCT/US15/29675.

Different designs of window controllers that can power tintingtransitions of multiple tinting zones of one or more multi-zone tintablewindows are described above. In some aspects, a tinting zone may havetwo tint states: a first bleached tint state and a second darkened tintstate. In other aspects, a tinting zone may have four tint states. Inother aspects, a tinting zone may have more than four tint states.

FIG. 29 includes a flowchart depicting a method, 2900, illustratingoperations used to make tinting decisions for multiple tintingzones/windows, according to embodiments. This control logic can be usedto determine tinting decisions for multiple windows and/or for multipletinting zones in one or more tintable windows, or combinations thereof.The instructions for this control logic are stored in memory and can beretrieved and executed by, e.g., a window controller such as the windowcontrollers shown and described herein, particularly in relation toFIGS. 9 and 10 . The control logic includes both instructions for makingthe illustrated tinting decisions to determine tint levels for themultiple tinting zones/windows as illustrated in the flowchart. Thecontrol logic also includes instructions for independently controllingthe tinting zones/windows to transition them to the determined tintlevels. In certain aspects, operations of this control logic may beadapted to determine tinting decisions to implement tintingconfigurations described herein.

At operation 2910, the position of the sun is calculated at the latitudeand longitude coordinates of the window(s) and the date and time of dayof a particular instant in time, ti. The latitude and longitudecoordinates may be input from a configuration file. The date and time ofday may be based on the current time provided by a timer.

At operation 2920, the amount of direct sunlight transmitted into theroom through each of the zones/windows is calculated at the particularinstant in time used in operation 2910. The amount of sunlight (e.g.,penetration depth) is calculated based on the position of the suncalculated in operation 2910 and the configuration of each zone/window.The zone/window configuration includes information such as the positionof the window, dimensions of the window, orientation of the window (i.e.direction facing), and the details of any exterior shading. Thezone/window configuration information is input from the configurationfile associated with the zone/window.

At operation 2930, the level of irradiance in the room is determined. Insome cases, the level of irradiance is calculated based on clear skyconditions to determine clear sky irradiance. A level of clear skyirradiance is determined based on window orientation from theconfiguration file and based on latitude and longitude of the building.These calculations may also be based on a time of day and date at theparticular instant in time used in operation 2910. Publicly availablesoftware such as the RADIANCE program, which is an open-source program,can provide the calculations for determining clear sky irradiance. Inaddition, the level of irradiance may be based on one or more sensorreadings. For example, a photosensor in the room may take periodicreadings that determine the actual irradiance in the room.

At operation 2940, the control logic determines whether the room isoccupied. The control logic may make its determination based on one ormore types of information including, for example, schedulinginformation, occupancy sensor data, asset tracking information,activation data from a user via a remote control or a wall unit such asshown in FIG. 27 , etc. For example, the control logic may determinethat the room is occupied if scheduling information indicates that theoccupant is likely to be in the room such as during typical workinghours. As another example, the control logic may determine that the roomis unoccupied if scheduling information indicates that it is aholiday/weekend. As another example, the control logic may determinethat the room is occupied based on readings from an occupancy sensor. Inyet another example, the control logic may determine that the room isoccupied if the occupant has entered information at a manual controlpanel of a wall unit or remote control that indicates occupancy. In yetanother example, the control logic may determine that the room isoccupied (occupancy) based on information received from an assettracking device such as a RFID tag. In this example, the occupantsthemselves are not being tracked. Including an occupancy sensor in theroom either through a system like Bluetooth low energy (BLE) workingwith a device on an asset of the occupant or with an occupancy sensor,the control logic can determine whether the room is occupied.

If it is determined at operation 2940 that the room is unoccupied, thecontrol logic selects a tint level for each zone/window prioritizingenergy control to heat/cool the building (operation 2950). In somecases, other factors may be weighed in the selection of the tint levelsuch as security or other safety concerns. The tint level determined atoperation 2940 is used to transition the zone/window. The control logicthen returns to operations 2910, 2920, and 2930, which are typicallyconducted on a periodic basis.

If it is determined at operation 2940 that the room is in occupied, thecontrol logic determines whether a mode has been selected by a user(operation 2960) or for a particular occupant based on an occupancyprofile. For example, a user (e.g. occupant or building operator) mayselect a mode at a user interface on a remote control or a wall unitsuch as shown in FIG. 27 . In some cases, the GUI may have a button(e.g. icon) designated for selecting the mode, for example, adaylighting icon. Some examples of modes include: “daylighting mode,”“uniform mode,” “wellbeing mode,” “emergency mode” as a user definedmodes. For example, the user may define a “user 1-mode 1” with aparticular tinting configuration.

If it is determined at operation 2960 that a mode has been selected bythe user, then the control logic selects a tint level for eachzone/window based on the mode (operation 2970). For example, if a“daylighting mode” has been turned on, then the tint level may determinethe tint level based on the following factors in order of priority:avoiding glare and allowing natural light into the room throughdaylighting regions. The tint level selected at operation 2960 is usedto transition the zone/window. The control logic then returns tooperations 2910, 2920, and 2930, which are typically conducted on aperiodic basis.

In some cases, three-dimensional projections of sunlight through eachzone/window are calculated to the amount of direct sunlight transmittedinto the room and to determine whether a glare condition exists in theroom with the zone/window. A discussion of light projections anddetermining a glare condition based on light projections is discussedbelow with respect to FIGS. 28A, 28B, and 28C.

If it is determined at operation 2960 that a mode has not been selectedby the user, then the control logic selects a tint level for eachzone/window based on factors in the following order of priority: 1)glare control, 2) energy control, and 3) daylighting (operation 2980).In some cases, other secondary factors may also be weighted into theselection of the tint level including one or more of: a time delay toprevent rapid transitioning, color rendering, tinting gradient, feedbackbased on historical data, occupant's view of the external environment,and light harvesting. For example, when an occupant is in their typicallocation in the room, it may be desirable for them to see out thewindow, for example, to view weather patterns. If occupant's view of theexternal environment is taken under consideration in making the tintingdecision, the control logic may determine that although a darkened tintstate of a particular tinting zone/window would avoid glare, a lowertint level will be used to provide a more clear view of the externalenvironment.

In one embodiment, three-dimensional projections of sunlight througheach zone/window are calculated to the amount of direct sunlighttransmitted into the room and to determine whether a glare conditionexists in the room with the zone/window. A discussion of lightprojections and determining a glare condition based on light projectionsis discussed below with respect to FIGS. 28A, 28B, and 28C.

At operation 2980, to determine a tint level appropriate for the amountof glare determined in operation 2920, the control logic may use anoccupancy lookup table to select an appropriate tint level for thezone/window based on the space type associated with the zone/window,glare amount calculated at operation 2920, and the acceptance angle ofthe zone/window. The space type and occupancy lookup table are providedas input from the configuration file for the particular window. Examplesof an occupancy lookup table have different tint levels for differentcombinations of amount of glare and space type. For example, anoccupancy lookup table may have eight (8) tint levels including 0(lightest), 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 (lightest). The lightest tintlevel of 0 corresponds to an SHGC value of 0.80, the tint level of 5corresponds to an SHGC value of 0.70, the tint level of 10 correspondsto an SHGC value of 0.60, the tint level of 15 corresponds to an SHGCvalue of 0.50, the tint level of 20 corresponds to an SHGC value of0.40, the tint level of 25 corresponds to an SHGC value of 0.30, thetint level of 30 corresponds to an SHGC value of 0.20, and the tintlevel of 35 (darkest) corresponds to an SHGC value of 0.10. In thisexample, the occupancy lookup table has three space types: Desk 1, Desk2, and Lobby and six amounts of glare (e.g., penetration depths ofsunlight into the room through the zone/window). The tint levels forDesk 1 close to the window are higher than the tint levels for Desk 2far from window to prevent glare when the desk is closer to the window.An illustrated example of such an occupancy lookup table can be found inPCT/US15/29675, filed on May 5, 2015 and titled “CONTROL METHOD FORTINTABLE WINDOWS.”

In one embodiment, the control logic may decrease the tint leveldetermined based on the amount of glare determined in operation 2920based on irradiance levels determined at operation 2930. For example,the control logic may receive sensor readings of irradiance whichindicates that a cloudy condition exists. In this case, the controllogic may decrease the tint level of the zone/window that was determinedto be associated with a glare condition.

At operation 2980, the control logic then determines whether to change,based on the second priority of energy control in the building, the tintlevel selected as appropriate for the amount of glare. For example, ifthe outside temperature is extremely high such that the cooling load ishigh, the control logic may increase the tint level in one or morezones/windows to reduce the cooling load. As another example, if theoutside temperature is extremely cold, the control logic may decreasethe tint level in one or more zones/windows while maintaining a darkenedtint state in a zone/window that would otherwise cause glare on theoccupancy region. The control logic then determines whether to changethe tint level based on the third level of priority daylighting whileaccounting for energy control in the building and maintaining a darkenedtint state in a zone/window that would otherwise cause glare on theoccupancy region. The tint level determined at operation 2980 is used totransition the zone/window. The control logic then returns to operations2910, 2920, and 2930, which are typically conducted on a periodic basis.

A. Tinting Configurations with Factors Designed to Improve OccupantWellness

According to some aspects, control logic is designed to use tintingconfigurations that improve occupant wellness. For example, certaintinting configurations discussed herein address factors such as avoidingglare on the occupant's position or likely position, increasing naturallighting in the room, and/or the color of the windows and associatedcolor of light in the room. In addition, control logic may control therate of transition between tint states. Also, certain tintingconfigurations may control the tinting gradient between adjacent tintingzones in different tint states and/or the tinting gradient within aparticular tinting. Some configurations for controlling the tintinggradient between adjacent zones and within a particular zone arediscussed above. Some configurations that address avoiding glare on theoccupant's position or likely position, increasing natural lighting inthe room, and/or the color of the windows and associated color of lightin the room are also discussed above.

1. Passive or Active Manipulation of Light

In certain implementations, a multi-zone window includes one or moretechniques for passive or active manipulation of light passing throughthe window to ensure there is no glare on the occupancy region andcontrols heat load while allowing for continuous daylighting into theroom. These techniques can function along with controlling the tintingof the multi-zone window.

In one aspect, the window may have active or passive control over thedirection of the light going into the room. Some examples of suchtechniques include micro shades, hexcells, light tubes, IR mirrors or IRreflectors, a film that absorbs IR or reflects IR. In one example, awindow is designed to ensure that light is directed to be parallel whencoming into a room by using micro shades, or hexcells, or thin filmcoatings. These techniques can be used to allow natural light into thebuilding while avoiding glare, controls heat and allow for manipulationof the light, provides beneficial color rendering using naturaldaylight. In an illustrated example, FIG. 6 shows a multi-zone window inthe form of an IGU with light tubes in the region between the two lites.The light tubes are in a region proximal the tinting zones 693 and 694of the lites. Both tinting zones 693 and 694 are in the clear state forcontinuous daylighting to pass sunlight incident the outer surface oftinting zone 694.

In another aspect, a multi-zone window in the form of an IGU includesone or more IR mirrors or IR reflectors in the region between the twolites of the IGU. In one example, the mirrors/reflectors are located inregion aligned with one or more tinting zones that can be held in theclear state to allow continuous daylighting into the room when sunlightis incident the outer surface at that region.

In yet another aspect, a multi-zone window with an electrochromic devicethat comprises a film that absorbs IR or reflects IR to control the heatthat is coming into a building and has active or passive control overthe direction of the light going into the room.

—Microshades

In implementations with microshades, the micro shades or the windowcould be articulated to adjust the direction of the light that is goinginto the room. For example, the microshades can be articulated to orientthem to direct light to bounce off the ceiling and/or to be keptparallel. In one example, a multi-zone window is round and can be (atleast) rotated in the plane of the wall in which it is installed inorder to harvest the light as the sun position and azimuth changes, forexample, to direct light in the same direction as the position of thesun changes. The round window could additionally have controllablyarticulating microshades to change their orientation to ensure propernon-glare daylighting throughout the day. Some details of microshadesand MEMS devices are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/443,353, titled “MULTI-PANE WINDOWS INCLUDING ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICESAND ELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEMS DEVICES” and filed on May 15, 2015, whichis hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

A multi-zone window with microshades would typically be installed abovea tintable window/zone without microshades, and above the height of theoccupant to help ensure that there will never be any glare on theoccupant. If the window has active or passive aiming of the incominglight, the angle of the microshades can be adjusted to modify the angleto ensure there is no glare even if they were placed below the height ofthe occupant.

In some cases, multi-zone window with techniques for passive or activemanipulation of light can be controlled based on input from a camera inthe room or a sensor such as an occupancy sensor. When coupled with acamera in the room or a sensor, this configuration can use active aimingto optimally heat up the room when that is desired. In addition,coupling with interior active or passive reflective surfaces, the systemcould harvest the light and direct it to other areas of the building.For example, the light can be channeled to other areas using light tubesor directed to other areas by simply cutting holes in walls to allow thelight to penetrate deeper into a building.

2. Color Rendering and Modified Color Temperature

The tint of a window can change the amount of light transmitted througha tintable window and the wavelength spectrum and associated color ofthe interior light transmitted into the room. Some tintingconfigurations described herein have techniques that providepreferential spectral selection of the incoming light. These techniquescan augment lighting to balance both the interior rendered color and theamount of natural light in the appropriate wavelength to improve visualcomfort, circadian rhythm regulation, and associated psychologicaleffect. For example, a tintable window may include a filter layer thatcontrols the transmission of natural daylight through the window. Thesetechniques can improve the color and spectrum of the incoming daylightinto the room and the comfort, visual perception, mood and wellbeing ofthe occupant. Some techniques can change the CCT (correlated colortemperature) and CRI (color rendering index) of the light in a room tohave incoming light-color closer to natural light.

One tinting configuration provides both natural lighting as well asfiltered light. These configurations may also use artificial lighting toaugment and/or adjust CCT and/or CRI. Other methods provide onlyfiltered light and artificial lighting to augment and/or adjust CCTand/or CRI.

—Creating Preferred Lighting for Occupant Using Color Balancing

As outlined above, described methods call for tinting in certain areaswhile not tinting in other areas, e.g. certain zones of a multi-zonetintable window or certain windows in a group of tintable windows, toreduce glare for the occupant while allowing ambient light to enter, socalled “daylighting,” that uses natural light to satisfy illuminationrequirements and color offset (color balance) e.g. from a tintablewindow's unwanted blue hue imparted to the occupant's space. Generallyspeaking, an occupant prefers natural sunlight over artificial lightingfrom, for example, incandescent, light-emitting diode (LED), orfluorescent lighting. However, with advancements in LED lightingtechnology, a much greater range of lighting possibilities, wavelengths,frequencies, colors, intensity ranges, and the like are possible.Specific embodiments use LED lighting technology to offset the bluenessor other unwanted hue in the occupant's space due to the transmittedlight from tintable windows. In certain embodiments, control of tintablewindows includes control over LED lighting to correct this perceived andrendered color to produce an ambient lighting condition that theoccupant would prefer. These methods can improve the color and spectrumof the incoming daylight into the room and the comfort, visualperception, mood and wellbeing of the occupant. Some methods change theCCT (correlated color temperature) and CRI (color rendering index) ofthe light in a room to have incoming light-color closer to naturallight.

In some embodiments, LED lighting is used to augment daylighting fromnatural light sources, e.g. when the amount, angle of natural lightentering the room or other factors make the natural lightinginsufficient to offset coloration from the light filtered throughtintable windows. For example, electrochromic windows may change thespectrum bandwidth, color and the amount of natural light that entersthe room. By providing a preferred spectral selection to the incominglight one can provide augmented lighting to balance both the interiorrendered color and the amount of natural light required in theappropriate frequency to ensure visual comfort, and, e.g., circadianregulation and improved psychological effect

In certain embodiments, LED lighting is used as an alternative tonatural light in order to achieve daylighting; that is, when only lightfiltered through tinted windows is available, LED lighting is adjustedto compensate for the unwanted color imparted by the tintable windows.For example, it may be the case that certain occupants desire a uniformwindow façade in terms of tinting, i.e. multi-zone windows or tintingsome windows while not tinting others is undesirable from an aestheticsstandpoint. In one embodiment, filtered light from a uniformly tintedwindow or group of windows, i.e. not using certain windows or zones toallow daylighting in to offset color, is measured for its color andlight characteristics or calculated based on known filteringcharacteristics of the tintable windows. Based on the value obtained,LED lighting is used to offset unwanted color hue or other lightcharacteristics in order to improve occupant comfort. Some methodschange the CCT (correlated color temperature) and CRI (color renderingindex) of the light in a room to have ambient light-color closer to thatof natural light.

In these embodiments, the incoming light, with or without natural light,is either modeled through a predictive algorithm or directly measuredwith an in-room sensor, e.g. on the wall, e.g. in a wall unit such asdescribed in relation to FIG. 27 , or in one or more of the tintablewindows allowing light into the space. In one example, a higher colortemperature is maintained using LED lighting when tintable windows arein a less tinted (less absorptive) state, and a lower color temperature(e.g. more yellow) is imparted by the LED lighting when tintable windowsare in a more tinted (more absorptive) state in order to maintain a CRIcloser to natural lighting in the space. Further aspects of theseembodiments are described below in the “Circadian rhythm regulation” and“Wellbeing Mode” sections of this description.

—Circadian Rhythm Regulation

In certain tinting configurations, the tinting is controlled, e.g., withfilter(s), to change the wavelength spectrum of the incoming light tothe appropriate light-wavelength to regulate the circadian rhythm andhence benefit the occupant.

In one technique, the tinting is controlled, e.g., with filter(s), tochange the wavelength spectrum of the incoming light to a rendered colorthat the occupant would prefer. This technique allows for control overLED lighting or other lighting to correct this perceived and renderedcolor to a preferred lighting condition for the occupant. By controllingthe transmission of a certain amount of natural daylighting at theappropriate wavelength/wavelengths, the circadian rhythm can beregulated which can be of benefit to the health and wellbeing of theoccupant.

In these configurations, control logic can have operations that predictthe amount and direction of the solar radiation or a sensor or sensorsin the room can measure the amount and direction of the solar radiation.For example, an irradiance sensor in the room located on the wall or thewindow can send signals to the window controller with periodicmeasurements. In one case, this sensor may be certified, as in a healthcare setting, to be properly sensitive/tested and calibrated toguarantee the correct outcome. Alternatively we can get this informationfrom the lighting system.

To provide circadian smart lighting, the window can have a specificsensor with a band gap filter and a time tracker to guarantee the windowhas provided the correct spectrum of natural light required for aspecific time of day. This may be provided by the daylight comingthrough the window and/or by the augmented interior lighting that hasbeen requested to provide the correct amount of appropriate wavelengthof lighting.

3. “Wellbeing Mode”

Moreover, the color of the interior light could have influence on theoccupant's behavior in different spaces based on the function of thespace. The control logic may have a separate logic module for control ofthe filtered natural light or augmented interior lighting to benefit theoccupant's mood and behavior. The operations of this module may functiondifferently depending on the function of the occupant's space in theroom. In some cases, the user may be able to select a “wellbeing mode”on a user control panel to have the light in the room controlledaccording to this module designed to improve the occupant's mood andbehavior.

In some cases, the control logic can be adapted to predict thewavelength and intensity of the exterior lighting and then combine itwith the current tint-level spectral characteristics and predict thespectral distribution of incoming daylight into the room. The wavelengthand intensity of the exterior lighting could be predicted, for example,using a weather service and a calculated sun angle based on a solarcalculator.

Including an occupancy sensor in the room either through a system likeBLE working with a device on the occupant or with an occupancy sensor,the control logic can choose whether to control the daylighting and thewindows with respect to the occupancy profile.

Alternatively if the room has a camera capable to record luminance andlight-spectrum in the room, the camera images can be used to determineboth whether there is an occupant, where the occupant is located, andwhat offset or change in the interior light would be needed to correctthe EC filtered light. This camera could also be calibrated to ensurethe occupant with respect to time-of-day and specific location isgetting the appropriate amount of appropriate light spectrum to benefittheir circadian rhythm. Alternatively by using a plethora of sensors inthe ceiling or in each light, the sensor data can be used to verify anoccupant, whether there is occupancy in a particular location and thecolor rendering of the lighting needed as well as the appropriate amountof light spectrum to benefit occupant's circadian rhythm.

Tinting decisions based on wellbeing considerations are based on one ormore factors including: (1) lighting in the room with the appropriatewavelength spectrum to regulate occupant's circadian rhythm; (2)determining of occupancy location to verify the lighting and exposuretime for that occupant is met; (3) providing appropriate color renderingindex of the interior light in the room to correct the EC IGU's filteredlight color based on a predefined color rendering; (4) Correlated colortemperature of the interior light in the room to correct the EC IGU'sfiltered light color based on a predefined CCT amount, which can beapplied to improve psychological effect of light in specified interiorspaces; (5) account for unique sensors that are certified to support theappropriate spectral distribution of lighting to benefit occupant'scircadian rhythm; and (6) lighting objectives that change based on ifthere is an occupant being effected by the lighting that is beingcontrolled by either the interior lighting or the EC IGU's filteredlight.

4. Daylighting Tinting Configurations

Certain aspects are related to tinting configurations with a multi-zonewindow that has at least one tinting zone (or window) that is held inthe bleached tint state (daylighting tinting zone(s)). A daylightingtinting zone allows natural light to pass into the room whilecontrolling glare/temperature in the room by tinting other tinting zonesof the multi-zone window. These aspects are directed to motivations fromthe occupant/building. First, a daylight tinting zone (or window) canincrease room illumination. That is, darker tint states can make a roomlook too dark to the occupant. The occupant may want to let in morelight into the room while still controlling glare when the sun shines ona façade. Second, a daylight tinting zone can improve room light color.That is, darker tint states can make light in the room look colored(e.g., blue). Occupant may want to maintain a more natural room colorwhile tinting to control glare. Third, a daylight tinting zone canimprove the view through the window and the occupant's connection tooutdoors. Occupant may want to identify current weather or other outdoorconditions when the window is in darker tint states. Fourth, a daylighttinting zone can maintain glare/heat control. That is, other tintingzones will be tinted to protect occupants from glare and prevent heatfrom solar radiation.

In certain aspects, the daylighting tinting zone has a width that issufficient to allow enough natural light into the room to reduce thecolor of light (e.g., blue hue) in the room while still providingglare/heating control. In one aspect, the width of the daylightingtinting zone is about 5″. In another aspect, the width of thedaylighting tinting zone is less than 22″. In another aspect, the widthof the daylighting tinting zone is between about 10″ and 21″. In oneaspect, the width of the daylighting tinting zone is about 15″.

Some examples of daylighting tinting configurations are shown in FIGS.1-5B. Other examples of tinting configurations are shown in FIGS. 12A,12B, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 .

FIG. 11 shows a left room, 1110, with a first multi-zone tintable window1112 and a right room, 1130, with a second multi-zone tintable window1132, according to aspects of a daylighting tinting configuration. Thefirst multi-zone tintable window 1112 in room 1110 at the left has twotinting zones above the sill level. The second multi-zone tintablewindow 1132 in room 1130 at the right has three tinting zones above thesill level. In both the first and second multi-zone tintable windows1130, 1132, a lower portion below the sill level is non-tintable. In onecase, the lower portion may be a transparent substrate without anoptically switchable device. In both rooms 1110, 1130, the top tintingzone is shown in a clear state to allow daylight to pass through thetinting zone into the room, which is similar to the transom windowexample shown in FIG. 2 . The first multi-zone tintable window 1112 withtwo tinting zones may have lower manufacturing and design complexitythan the three-zone window.

FIG. 12A includes plan and side (south elevation) views of a modeledbuilding with several tintable multi-zone windows in a room 1200,according to an embodiment illustrating a daylighting tintingconfiguration. FIG. 12B includes perspective views of the room 1200modeled building shown in FIG. 12A. Each multi-zone window having twotinting zones, a first top tinting zone and a second middle tintingzone. The lower area is a transparent substrate without an opticallyswitchable device. In the illustrated example, the upper tinting zone isin a lighter state than the middle tinting zone to allow daylight topass through the upper tinting zone into the room.

FIG. 13 is a graph of the daylight glare probability (DGP) on June 21,September 21 and December 21 from sunlight through the multi-zone windowshown in FIG. 11 at the seating rows 1 and 2 of a room, according to anembodiment. The multi-zone window has two tinting zones. FIG. 14 is agraph of the indoor light levels at desk level in foot-candle (FC) onJune 21, September 21 and December 21 for the two tinting zones in theroom described with respect to FIG. 13 . FIG. 15 is a chart of a tintingschedule for the two-zone multi-zone window shown in FIG. 11 includingilluminance levels and DGP values. As shown, from a time periods, totinting zones provide sufficient glare control and daylighting. Thedarkest tint state (tint 4) is needed for the middle of the day at theend of the year.

FIG. 16 is a chart of a tinting schedule for a multi-zone window havingtwo zones and having three zones. Compared to two zones, three zonesoffers more tinting options. Lower vision only can be tinted at times toslightly drop glare without affecting light levels.

FIG. 17 is a chart showing the comparison of estimated annualizeddaylight through a tintable window having one tinting zone, a multi-zonetintable window having two tinting zones, and a multi-zone tintablewindow having three tinting zones, each that implement a daylightingtinting configuration. This chart shows that with increased tintingzones, the annualized daylight increases. In this example, the windowwith three zones has more than 27% higher annualized daylight than thetwo zone configuration.

FIG. 18 depicts pie charts of the percentage of estimated annualizedworking hours at the darkest tint 4 for a tintable window having onetinting zone, having two tinting zones that tint in a daylightingconfiguration, and having three tinting zones, each that implement adaylighting configuration. In this example, the multi-zone window withtwo zones and three zones in the daylighting configuration has spent 28%less time spent in the darkest tint state (T4) than the window with asingle tinting zone.

FIG. 19 shows an illustration of a simulation of two views of a roomhaving multi-zone tintable windows with a daylighting tinting zonehaving a width of 15″.

FIG. 20 shows graphs of the green-blue coloration and luminance in asimulated room with a daylighting tinting zone having a width of 5″. Thefirst 5″ in the width of the daylighting zone makes the largestincremental difference in room color. One embodiment is a method ofproviding daylighting to a room having tintable windows between the roomspace and the exterior of the room, the method including allowing atleast 5″ of non-tinted window length when the remainder of the tintablewindows' length are tinted to allow less than 5% transmission of thesolar spectrum pass through them.

5. Tinting Gradient Between Tinting Zones

Some occupants may prefer to not see a sharp contrast between differenttint states of adjacent tinting zones. In order to minimize thiscontrast, a tinting gradient can be used to transition between thedifferent tint states in a gradient portion (area) between the tintingzones. In certain aspects, this gradient portion is a resistive zone.Examples of resistive zones can be found described in detail in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/137,644, titled “Multi-Zone EC Windows,”filed on Mar. 13, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference.

In some aspects, a multi-zone window comprises a gradient portion (alsocalled herein a gradient region) between adjacent tinting zones toreduce the contrast between different tint states in the adjacenttinting zones. This gradient portion has a length that runs along theintersection of the adjacent tinting zones and a width. Generally, thewidth is selected to be large enough so that when the gradient portionis viewed from across the room, it does not appear as a sharp linebetween the tinting zones. In one aspect, the width of the gradientportion is about 10″. In another aspect, the width of the gradientportion is the range of 2″ to 15″. In one aspect, the width of thegradient portion is about 5″. In one aspect, the width of the gradientportion is about 2″. In one aspect, the width of the gradient portion isabout 15″. In one aspect, the width of the gradient portion is about20″. In one aspect, the width of the gradient portion is about 20″. Inone aspect, the width of the gradient portion is at least about 10″. Inone aspect, the width of the gradient portion is at least about 16″.

Illustrated examples of multi-zone windows with gradient regions havingdifferent widths are shown in FIGS. 21-26 . FIG. 21 is an illustrationof a room with multi-zone windows having a gradient region with a widthof 2″ between a daylighting tinting zone and an adjacent lower tintingzone in a darker tint state. FIG. 22 is an illustration of a room withmulti-zone windows having a gradient region with a width of 5″ between adaylighting tinting zone and an adjacent lower tinting zone in a darkertint state. FIG. 23 is an illustration of a room with multi-zone windowshaving a gradient region with a width of 10″ between a daylightingtinting zone and an adjacent lower tinting zone in a darker tint state.FIG. 24 is an illustration of a room with multi-zone windows having agradient region with a width of 15″ between a daylighting tinting zoneand an adjacent lower tinting zone in a darker tint state. FIG. 25 is anillustration of a room with multi-zone windows having a gradient regionwith a width of 20″ between a daylighting tinting zone and an adjacentlower tinting zone in a darker tint state. FIG. 26 is an illustration ofa room with multi-zone windows having a gradient region with a width of30″ between a daylighting tinting zone and an adjacent lower tintingzone in a darker tint state.

Taking various user feedback on the various gradient region widths, ithas been found that a minimum of 5″ of gradient are required beforeusers begin to ignore the contrast between bleached or lightly tintedzones and adjacent darkly tinted zones (e.g. zones tinted to levels thatblock between 95% and 99% of the solar spectrum). Larger tint gradientwidths may accomplish the same goal, though 5″ width is sufficient inmost cases.

6. Occupancy Input, Dynamic Awareness of Occupancy Locations

In certain implementations, control logic is used to control the tintstate of each of the tinting zones of a multi-zone tintable window,individual windows of a group (or zone) of windows, or combinationsthereof. In some cases, the control logic first determines whether theroom with the window is occupied or unoccupied. The control logic maymake its determination based on one or more data such as, for example,one or more of scheduling information, occupancy sensor data, assettracking information, activation data from a user via a remote controlor a wall unit such as shown in FIG. 27 , etc. The remote control may bein the form of handheld device such as a smart phone or may be acomputing device such as a laptop. For example, the control logic maydetermine that the room is occupied if scheduling information indicatesthat the occupant is likely to be in the room. As another example, thecontrol logic may determine that the room is occupied based on readingsfrom an occupancy sensor. In yet another example, the control logic maydetermine that the room is occupied if the occupant has enteredinformation at a manual control panel of a wall unit or remote controlthat indicates occupancy.

If the room is occupied, the control logic determines whether a glarecondition exists in the area that is occupied or is likely occupied.

The control method determines the tint states for the tinting zonesbased on the locations of the occupant(s) in the room. For example, thetint states can be determined to avoid glare on a desk or other areathat may be likely or is occupied. In some cases, the current locationof the occupant(s) is based on the information retrieved from anoccupancy lookup table. In other cases, the current location ofoccupants is based on the data in a signal from a sensor (e.g.,occupancy sensor). The sensor may generate the signal with the locationof an occupant in the room. The window controller may receive thesignal. As another example, a user may provide data regarding thelocation of an occupant in the room, for example, via a control panel inthe room.

FIG. 27 is a photograph of an example of a wall unit with a manualcontrol panel, according to an embodiment.

In certain aspects, a control method determines tint states for tintingzones in a multi-zone tintable window having a daylighting tinting zone.In these cases, the control method determines tint states that maximizedaylight while controlling glare and/or heat load from solar radiationentering the room. In certain aspects, the user can use a control panel(e.g., manual control panel in room or computer interface) to select a“daylighting mode” or a “uniform mode,” another predetermined mode, or amode customized by the user. For example, the user may be able tocustomize different tint states for the zones of the windows in the roome.g., “user 1-mode 1.” In the “daylighting mode,” the control methoddetermines a clear or lighter tinting state for the daylighting tintingzone than for other tinting zones of the window. In the “uniform mode,”the control method determines tint states for the zones based oncriteria other than for purpose of daylighting.

7. Feedback Learning Multi-Zone Preferences/Occupancy Patterns

In certain aspects, the control logic used to control the tint states ofthe tinting zones/windows is based on feedback learning of preferencesand occupancy patterns. For example, the locations of an occupant atdifferent times/dates as determined by sensors, from user input, etc.may be stored as occupancy patterns. These locations of occupancy atdifferent times/dates may be used to predict the locations of theoccupant at a future time. The control method may then control the tintstates based on the predicted locations of the occupant.

As another example, user input selecting certain tint states at certaintimes for different tinting zones may be stored. These tintingselections of the user may be used to predict the tint states that maybe desired in the room. The control method may then control the tintstates according to these predicted tint states desired by the user.

8. Light Projections into Room Used to Determine Glare Condition

In certain implementations, control logic includes instructions thatdetermine whether direct sunlight through a tinting zone generates aglare condition in an occupancy region by calculating athree-dimensional projection of light from the tinting zone through theroom. The three-dimensional projection of light may be considered to bea volume of light in a room where the outside light directly penetratesinto the room. For example, the three dimensional projection may bedefined by parallel light rays from the sun through a tinting zone ofthe multi-zone window. The direction of the three-dimensional projectioninto the room is based on Sun azimuth and/or sun altitude that can becalculated with a solar calculator based on the time of day and thelongitudinal and latitudinal coordinates of the window. Thethree-dimensional projection of light can be used to determineintersections with occupancy regions in the room. The control logicdetermines the light projection at a particular plane and determines theamount that the light projection or a glare area associated with thelight projection overlaps with the occupancy region. If the lightprojection is outside of the occupancy region, a glare scenario isdetermined to not exist. Details of control logic that usesthree-dimensional projection of light to determine glare scenarios isdescribed in PCT application PCT/US15/29675, filed on May 5, 2015 andtitled “CONTROL METHOD FOR TINTABLE WINDOWS,” which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIGS. 28A, 28B, and 28C are schematic drawings of a perspective view ofa room (vertical walls not shown) 2800 having a multi-zone window 2810with a first tinting zone 2812 and a second tinting zone 2814 in avertical wall between the outside of a building and the inside of theroom 2800, according to an embodiment. FIGS. 28A, 28B, and 28 illustraterespectively three different sunlight scenarios where sunlight isshining through the multi-zone window 2810 in three different directions2850, 2860, 2870 (depicted as dotted arrows) associated with differentpositions of the sun. In the illustrated example, the room 2800 has anoccupancy region 2820 that is a position or likely position of anoccupant. The occupancy region 2820 may be, for example, a desk oranother workspace. In this example, the occupancy region 2820 is definedas a two dimensional area on the floor of the room 2800. In theillustrated example, sunlight (depicted as directional arrows) isimpinging the first tinting zone 2812 and second tinting zone 2814 ofthe multi-zone window 2810. Using control logic, a projection of lightfrom each of the two tinting zones 2812, 2814 and through the room 2800is determined based on the position of the sun. The control logicdetermines a two-dimensional light projection through each tinting zone,2812 a and 2814 a, respectively, at the plane of the occupancy region2820, which is coplanar to the surface of the floor of the room 2800. Inthe illustrated example, a first two-dimensional light projection 2812 ais depicted through the first tinting zone 2812 and a secondtwo-dimensional light projection 2814 a is depicted through the secondtinting zone 2814 on the floor of the room 2800. The control logic thendetermines whether a two-dimensional light projection from a tintingzone intersects the occupancy region. If a two-dimensional lightprojection intersects the occupancy region, the control logic places(holds or transitions to) the corresponding tinting zone in a darkenedtint state. Although two tinting zones are shown, it would be understoodthat additional zones and/or different locations of tinting zones wouldapply using a similar method.

In the first scenario shown in FIG. 28A, for example, neither of thetwo-dimensional light projections 2812 a, 2814 a through the tintingzones 2812, 2814 intersects the occupancy region 2820. In this case, thetinting zones 2812, 2814 are placed in a clear state.

In the second scenario shown in FIG. 28B, the first two-dimensionallight projection 2812 a intersects the occupancy region 2820 and thesecond two-dimensional light projection 2814 a does not intersect theoccupancy region 2820. In this scenario, the first tinting zone 2812 isplaced in a darkened tint state to avoid a glare scenario. Since thesecond two-dimensional light projection 2814 a does not intersect theoccupancy region 2820, the second tinting zone 2814 is placed in a clearstate.

In the third scenario shown in FIG. 28C, both the first two-dimensionallight projection 2812 a and the second two-dimensional light projection2814 a intersect the occupancy region 2820. In this scenario, the firsttinting zone 2812 and the second tinting zone 2814 are placed in adarkened tint state to avoid a glare scenario on the occupancy region2820.

Although the illustrated example in FIGS. 28A, 28B, and 28C includes amulti-zone tintable window, a similar technique would also apply toseparate and adjacent tintable windows. For example, a room may have twoseparate and adjacent tintable windows in a vertical wall between theoutside of a building and the inside of the room. Using control logic, athree-dimensional projection of light from each tintable window isdirected through the room based on the position of the sun. The controllogic determines a two-dimensional light projection through each windowat the plane of the occupancy region. The control logic then determineswhether a two-dimensional light projection from each window intersectsthe occupancy region. If the two-dimensional light projection intersectsthe occupancy region, the control logic places (holds or transitions to)the corresponding window in a darkened tint state.

Although certain embodiments are described herein with respect toindependently controlling multiple tinting zones of a multi-zonetintable window, it would be understood that similar techniques couldapply to controlling multiple tintable windows (multi-zone orsingle-zone) of set of tintable windows. For example, a building couldhave an assembly of tintable windows on a facade of a building or in aroom. The techniques described herein could be used to independentlycontrol the tintable windows of the assembly. That is, each tintablewindow may have one or more tinting zones and the techniquesindependently control the tinting zones of the tintable windows in theassembly.

It should be understood that the present invention as described abovecan be implemented in the form of control logic using computer softwarein a modular or integrated manner. Based on the disclosure and teachingsprovided herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art will know andappreciate other ways and/or methods to implement the present inventionusing hardware and a combination of hardware and software.

Any of the software components or functions described in thisapplication, may be implemented as software code to be executed by aprocessor using any suitable computer language such as, for example,Java, C++ or Python using, for example, conventional or object-orientedtechniques. The software code may be stored as a series of instructions,or commands on a computer readable medium, such as a random accessmemory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a magnetic medium such as ahard-drive or a floppy disk, or an optical medium such as a CD-ROM. Anysuch computer readable medium may reside on or within a singlecomputational apparatus, and may be present on or within differentcomputational apparatuses within a system or network.

Although the foregoing disclosed embodiments have been described in somedetail to facilitate understanding, the described embodiments are to beconsidered illustrative and not limiting. It will be apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art that certain changes and modifications can bepracticed within the scope of the appended claims.

One or more features from any embodiment may be combined with one ormore features of any other embodiment without departing from the scopeof the disclosure. Further, modifications, additions, or omissions maybe made to any embodiment without departing from the scope of thedisclosure. The components of any embodiment may be integrated orseparated according to particular needs without departing from the scopeof the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An insulated glass unit (IGU), comprising: afirst lite comprising a first electrochromic device disposed on a firsttransparent substrate, the first electrochromic device comprising aplurality of independently-controllable tinting zones and a resistivezone between adjacent independently-controllable tinting zones of theplurality of independently-controllable tinting zones; a second litecomprising a second transparent substrate; a spacer disposed between thefirst lite and the second lite; and a daylighting zone in a horizontalregion of the IGU, the daylighting zone including (i) a set of lighttubes, (ii) a set of light scattering elements, (iii) a set ofreflectors and/or absorbers, (iv) a diffuser, (v) a set of hexcells,and/or (vi) a set of microshades.
 2. The IGU of claim 1, wherein thedaylighting zone is located at a portion of the IGU further away thanother portions of the IGU in a direction opposite to a gravitationalvector.
 3. The IGU of claim 1, wherein the set of light tubes arelocated between the first lite and the second lite and are horizontallyoriented.
 4. The IGU of claim 1, wherein the diffuser comprises adiffusing film or a light-directing film disposed on one or both of thefirst transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate in aregion of the daylighting zone.
 5. The IGU of claim 1, wherein the setof reflectors and/or absorbers include (i) one or more infraredreflectors between the first lite and the second lite, and/or (ii) oneor more infrared absorbers between the first lite and the second lite.6. The IGU of claim 1, wherein the set of reflectors and/or absorberscomprises at least one mirror positioned to reflect sunlight in adirection normal to an inner surface of the first lite.
 7. The IGU ofclaim 1, wherein the second lite comprises a second electrochromicdevice disposed on the second transparent substrate.
 8. The IGU of claim7, wherein the second electrochromic device comprises a plurality ofindependently-controllable tinting zones and a resistive zone betweenadjacent independently-controllable tinting zones of the plurality ofindependently-controllable tinting zones.
 9. The IGU of claim 1,wherein: the first lite is located outboard of the second lite; and thefirst electrochromic device is on an inner surface of the first lite.10. The IGU of claim 7, wherein the second electrochromic device is onan inner surface of the second lite.
 11. The IGU of claim 1, wherein theresistive zone is configured to provide a tinting gradient betweendifferent tint states of the adjacent independently-controllable tintingzones.
 12. The IGU of claim 11, wherein the resistive zone has a widthof at least about 5 inches.
 13. The IGU of claim 1, wherein thedaylighting zone has a width from about 10 inches to about 15 inches.14. The IGU of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for receivingwireless power and/or generating power.
 15. The IGU of claim 14, whereinthe mechanism comprises a photovoltaic structure.
 16. The IGU of claim1, further comprising at least one filter coating disposed on one orboth of the first transparent substrate and the second transparentsubstrate, and wherein the at least one filter coating is configured topass wavelengths of natural light.
 17. The IGU of claim 1, furthercomprising at least one filter coating disposed on one or both of thefirst transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate, andwherein the filter coating is configured to pass wavelengths associatedwith occupant wellness.
 18. An insulated glass unit (IGU) comprising: afirst lite comprising a first electrochromic device disposed on a firsttransparent substrate, the first electrochromic device comprising afirst plurality of independently-controllable tinting zones and a firstresistive zone between adjacent independently-controllable tinting zonesof the first plurality of independently-controllable tinting zones,wherein the first resistive zone is configured to provide a tintinggradient between different tint states of the adjacentindependently-controllable tinting zones; a second lite; and a spacerbetween the first lite and the second lite.
 19. The IGU of claim 18,wherein the first resistive zone is within a horizontal region of theIGU.
 20. The IGU of claim 18, further comprising a second electrochromicdevice on the second lite, the second electrochromic device comprising asecond plurality of independently-controllable tinting zones and asecond resistive zone between adjacent independently-controllabletinting zones of the second plurality of independently-controllabletinting zones, and wherein the second resistive zone has a width of atleast 5 inches.
 21. The IGU of claim 1, further comprising at least onefilter coating disposed on the first transparent substrate and/or on thesecond transparent substrate, wherein the at least one filter coating isconfigured to block wavelengths corresponding to blue color.
 22. The IGUof claim 1, wherein the IGU is configured to (i) control color and (ii)luminance in a room having the IGU.
 23. The IGU of claim 1, wherein thedaylighting zone comprises a portion of the first lite and a portion ofthe second lite, and wherein at least (i) the set of light tubes, (ii)the set of light scattering elements, (iii) the set of reflectors and/orabsorbers, (v) the set of hexcells, and/or (vi) the set of microshadesare located between the portion of the first lite and the portion of thesecond lite of the horizontal region of the IGU.
 24. The IGU of claim23, wherein the diffuser comprises a diffusing film or a light-directingfilm disposed on one or both of (I) the first transparent substrate inthe portion of the first lite in the daylighting zone and (II) thesecond transparent substrate in the portion of the second lite in thedaylighting zone.